Biology GCSE
Oxygen debt
What Oxygen debt means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Oxygen debt
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Reference: AQA
Produced when anaerobic respiration in muscle converts glucose to lactic acid, and it must be repaid after exercise by continued fast breathing and heart rate.
The extra oxygen that must eventually be taken in to oxidise the lactic acid, repaid by continued fast breathing and a raised heart rate after exercise stops.
The amount of extra oxygen the body needs after exercise to react with the accumulated lactic acid and remove it from the cells.
The extra oxygen needed after exercise to remove lactic acid.
Topics that use Oxygen debt
- Aerobic and anaerobic respiration (AQA GCSE)
- Response to exercise (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Aerobic respiration
- Anaerobic respiration
- Aerobic and anaerobic pathways
- Anaerobic respiration and lactic acid production
- Breath volume
- Cellular respiration
- Energy transfer
- Exothermic reactions
Using Oxygen debt in the exam
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