MUSCLE CRAMPS
We (the human beings) obtain energy by aerobic respiration. But anaerobic respiration can sometimes take place in our muscles (or the muscles of animals). For example, anaerobic respiration takes place in our muscles during vigorous physical exercise when oxygen gets used up faster in the muscle cells than can be supplied by the blood. When anaerobic respiration takes place in human muscles (or animal muscles), then glucose (food) is converted into lactic acid with the release of a small amount of energy. The breaking down of glucose (food) during anaerobic respiration in muscles.
The sudden build up of lactic acid in our muscles during vigorous physical activity can cause muscular 'cramps'. (The painful contractions of muscles are called cramps). Let us discuss this in a little more detail. During heavy physical exercise (or any other heavy physical activity), most of the energy in our muscles is produced by aerobic respiration. Anaerobic
respiration in muscles provides only some extra energy which is needed under the conditions of heavy physical activity (like running very fast or running for a long time).
muscles causes muscle cramps. Thus, muscle cramps occur due to the accumulation of lactic acid in muscle
when the muscles respire anaerobically (without oxygen) while doing hard physical exercise. We can get relief from cramps in muscles caused by heavy exercise by taking a hot water bath or a massag hot water bath (or massage) improues the circulation of blood in the muscles. Due to improved blood flow, the supply of oxygen to the muscles increases. This oxygen breaks down lactic acid accumulated in muscles into carbon dioxide and water, and hence gives us relief from cramps. The anaerobic respiration does not take place only in the muscles of human beings, it also takes place in the muscles of other animals such as lion, tiger, cheetah, deer, and many other animals when they run very fast and require much more energy than normal.
1.Aerobic Respiration:- The respiration which uses oxygen is called aerobic respiration. It is called aerobic respiration because it uses air which contains oxygen ('aerobic' means 'with air').
2. Anaerobic Respiration:- The respiration which takes place without oxygen is called anaerobic respiration. It is called anaerobic respiration because it takes place without air which contains oxygen ('anaerobic'means'without air'). The microscopic organisms like yeast and some bacteria obtain energy by anaerobic respiration (which is called fermentation). In anaerobic respiration, the micro-organisms like yeast break down glucose (food) into ethanol and carbon dioxide, and release energy. This energy is then used by the micro-organisms.
Anaerobic respiration produces much less energy. which gets stored in the ATP molecules.
How Energy Released During Respiration is Stored ?
All the energy released during respiration is not used
immediately by an organism (plant or animal). The energy produced during respiration is stored in the form of ATP molecules in the cells of the body and used by the organism as and when required.
In order to understand this we should first know the meaning of ADP, ATP and inorganic phosphate. These are given below.
ADP is a substance called Adenosine Di-Phosphate. The
molecules of ADP are present in a cell. ADP has low energy content.
ATP is a substance called Adenosine Tri-Phosphate. It is also present inside a cell. ATP has a high energy content. Inorganic phosphate is a substance which contains a phosphate group made
up of phosphorus and oxygen. Inorganic phosphates are also present in a cell. Inorganic phosphate can be represented by writing just 'phosphate'. The inorganic phosphate can also be represented by the symbol Pi (where P stands for phosphate and i for inorganic).
ADP contains two phosphate groups whereas ATP contains three phosphate groups in its molecule.
The energy released during respiration is used to make ATP molecules from ADP and inorganic phosphate. This happens as follows : ADP combines with inorganic phosphate by absorbing the energy released during respiration to form ATP molecules.
