A 62-year-old male collapsed while unloading a truck of heavy sacks of feed for his cattle. When he arrived in the emergency department, blood gases reveal a slightly acidic blood sample. The nurse caring for this patient is not surprise with this result based on which of the following pathophysiological rationales?
A) The skeletal muscles are producing large amounts of lactic acid and release it into the bloodstream during heavy work/exercise.
B) During exercise, catabolism will break down stored nutrients and body tissues to produce energy.
C) Large amounts of free energy are released when ATP is hydrolyzed and then converted into adenosine diphosphate.
D) Within the mitochondria, energy from reduction of oxygen is used for phosphorylation of ADP to ATP.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heart muscle is efficient in converting lactic acid to pyruvic acid and then using the pyruvic acid for fuel. Pyruvic acid is an important source of fuel for the heart during heavy exercise when the skeletal muscles are producing large amounts of lactic acid and releasing it into the bloodstream. Therefore, the blood sample would be acidic by nature. Catabolism will break down stored nutrients and body tissues to produce energy. ATP conversion into ADP and phosphorylation of ADP to ATP are both aerobic metabolism processes.

A 62-Year-Old Male Collapsed While Unloading a Truck of Heavy