What happens to lactic acid in the body?

As a subject matter expert in biochemistry, I can explain the process of lactic acid metabolism in the body. Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic respiration, which occurs when the body's demand for energy exceeds the supply of oxygen, such as during intense physical activity. Here's what happens to lactic acid in the body: 1. Production: Lactic acid is produced primarily in muscle cells during anaerobic glycolysis, a process that generates ATP quickly without using oxygen. 2. Removal: The lactic acid then diffuses out of the muscle cells into the bloodstream, where it can be transported to the liver. 3. Conversion: In the liver, lactic acid undergoes a process called correlation with the help of the Cori cycle. Here, lactic acid is converted back into glucose, a process known as gluconeogenesis. 4. Utilization: The newly formed glucose can be released back into the bloodstream and used by the body's cells, including the muscles that produced the lactic acid, for energy. 5. Regulation: The body carefully regulates the levels of lactic acid to prevent acidosis, a condition where the blood becomes too acidic. 6. Excretion: A small amount of lactic acid may also be excreted through the urine.

The Cori cycle (also known as the Lactic acid cycle), named after its discoverers, Carl Ferdinand Cori and Gerty Cori, refers to the metabolic pathway in which lactate produced by anaerobic glycolysis in the muscles moves to the liver and is converted to glucose, which then returns to the muscles and is metabolized ...