A person needs to stop, rest, and take in enough oxygen to complete the catabolism of lactic acid and relieve the muscle?
To understand why a person needs to stop, rest, and take in enough oxygen to relieve the muscle from lactic acid, we need to delve into the process of muscle metabolism and the role of oxygen in it.
During intense physical activity, our muscles require energy to contract and move. The primary source of this energy is the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, the body has limited stores of ATP, which is quickly depleted under heavy exertion.
To continue fueling the muscles with ATP, the body undergoes a process called anaerobic metabolism. In this anaerobic pathway, glucose is converted into ATP without the presence of oxygen. However, a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism is the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles.
Lactic acid buildup can lead to muscle fatigue, a burning sensation, and discomfort. It impairs muscle contraction and compromises performance.
Now, let's address the solution: stopping, resting, and taking in enough oxygen.
When physical activity ceases and the body enters a state of rest, oxygen becomes more readily available. The body then switches from anaerobic metabolism to aerobic metabolism, which relies on oxygen to produce ATP.
Aerobic metabolism involves the breakdown of glucose and fatty acids in the presence of oxygen, resulting in the complete oxidation of fuels into carbon dioxide and water. This process efficiently generates ATP while avoiding lactic acid buildup.
By stopping and resting, the body has the opportunity to replenish its oxygen supply. Breathing becomes deeper, and the respiratory and circulatory systems work to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the muscles. This oxygen helps break down the lactic acid accumulated during anaerobic metabolism.
So, stopping and resting allow the body to shift to aerobic metabolism, enabling the muscles to utilize oxygen to complete the breakdown of lactic acid and return to their normal function.