Compared with the 36 to 38 ATP of aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration in a human muscle cell yields

  • A. no ATP at all
  • B. 4 ATP per glucose
  • C. 2 ATP per glucose
  • D. 24 ATP per glucose

Explanation

Only glycolysis runs without oxygen, giving a net gain of 2 ATP, while the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain need oxygen to continue. This is why muscles tire quickly when they have to rely on lactate fermentation.

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