When an individual is exercising heavily and when the muscle becomes oxygen-deprived, muscle cells convert pyruvate to lactate. What happens to the lactate in skeletal muscle cells?
A) It is converted to NAD⁺.
B) It produces CO₂ and water.
C) It is taken to the liver and converted back to pyruvate.
D) It reduces FADH₂ to FAD⁺.
E) It is converted to alcohol.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lactate produced in skeletal muscle cells during exercise is transported to the liver, where it is converted back to pyruvate by the Cori cycle. This pyruvate can then be used in gluconeogenesis to produce glucose, which can be used by the muscle cells or released into the bloodstream for other cells to use.

When an Individual Is Exercising Heavily and When the Muscle