3.3 Anaerobic Respiration and Fermentation

Anaerobic Cellular Respiration

A metabolic pathway that uses an inorganic molecule other than oxygen as the final electron acceptor for ATP synthesis.

Anaerobic Fermentation

A cellular respiration pathway that transfers electrons from NADH to an organic acceptor molecule.

Lactate Fermentation

Occurs in muscle cells and some bacteria, resulting in the production of lactate after glycolysis when oxygen is insufficient.

Ethanol Fermentation

Occurs in yeast cells and some bacteria, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide from glucose.

NADH

The reduced form of NAD+ that carries electrons to the electron transport chain.

Pyruvate

A key end-product of glycolysis that can be converted into lactate or ethanol depending on oxygen availability.

Glycolysis

The first step of cellular respiration that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, yielding a small amount of ATP.

Lactic Acid

The product of lactate fermentation that causes a burning sensation in muscles during intense exercise.

Carbon Dioxide

A byproduct of ethanol fermentation released during the conversion of glucose in some microorganisms.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in all living organisms, produced during cellular respiration.