| Anaerobic biochemistry |
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Anaerobics are activities that are carried out 'without oxygen'. This terminology refers to the molecular level of respiration, not the respiration of the organism as a whole (i.e., breathing). During anaerobic exercise, the muscles being exercised have insufficient oxygen to meet the demands of the activity, and thus must also use alternate, non-oxygen-dependent processes to produce energy. The muscle does still receive oxygen during anaerobic exercise; the average drop in blood oxygen content throughout the body is likely minimal. Anaerobic exercise begins with muscles utilizing stored creatine phosphate to generate the ATP that produces muscle contraction. After several seconds, further ATP energy is made available to muscles by metabolizing muscle glycogen or sugars in the blood to lactate. The following aerobic phase is limited by the ability of the heart and lungs to supply the muscle with oxygen. Aerobic metabolism can utilise carbohydrates or fats, as well as lactic acid from anaerobic metabolism, as fuel, releasing larger amounts of energy. |