Year 10 - Physical education
Lactic acid and recovering from exercise
Anatomy and physiology: anaerobic and aerobic exercise
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit will explore the impact of varying the intensity and durations of exercise upon the build up of lactic acid and recovery rates. Exercises will be classified as either aerobic (with sufficient oxygen) or anaerobic (without sufficient oxygen).
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain when lactic acid accumulates, how the body responds to different types of exercise and how to optimise recovery.
Key Notes
- Lactic acid is produced when we exercise anaerobically.
- Anaerobic exercise is when the intensity is too high to provide sufficient oxygen for aerobic respiration.
- Anaerobic exercise at high intensity can only last a short duration.
- During recovery respiratory rates remain elevated to remove lactic acid.
Vocabulary To Learn
- lactic acid: a by-product of anaerobic respiration that accumulates in muscles during intense exercise, contributing to muscle fatigue and soreness
- oxygen debt: the amount of extra oxygen required to remove the lactic acid and replace the body's reserves of oxygen
- lactate accumulation: the point at which intensity of exercise triggers a build up of lactic acid in the muscles and blood due to working anaerobically with insufficient oxygen
- recovery: time required to repair the damage to the body caused by training or competition
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Exercise is either aerobic or anaerobic and lactic acid is bad.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Lactic acid is produced when we exercise anaerobically. Anaerobic exercise is when the intensity is too high to provide sufficient oxygen for aerobic respiration.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'lactic acid'
a by-product of anaerobic respiration that accumulates in muscles during intense exercise, contributing to muscle fatigue and soreness.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Exercise is either aerobic or anaerobic and lactic acid is bad. Correction: All exercise is on a continuum from 100% aerobic (e.g. a long distance walk) to 100% anaerobic (e.g. a 1 rep max powerlifter) and the build up of lactic acid is perfectly natural and necessary to work at high intensity when insufficient O2 available.
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