Susan suffered from a heart attack. When the doctors tested the heart muscle, they found that she had an increased ratio of lactic acid to pyruvic acid in her heart. What does this say about the availability of oxygen in her heart muscle cells?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lactic acid is an indication that lactic acid fermentation is occurring in muscle cells. Lactic acid fermentation occurs only in the absence of oxygen; thus, the heart cells may not have been receiving enough oxygen, a factor that could contribute to the occurrence of a heart attack. The level of lactic acid could be measured in certain parts of the heart as an indication of risk of heart attack.

Susan Suffered from a Heart Attack