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Year 8

Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans

I can describe differences between aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration in humans.

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New
New
Year 8

Anaerobic cellular respiration in humans

I can describe differences between aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration in humans.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Anaerobic cellular respiration takes place without using oxygen.
  2. In humans, anaerobic cellular respiration produces lactic acid, which can cause muscle cramps.
  3. Word summaries of the reactants and products of aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration in humans.
  4. Anaerobic cellular respiration takes place only in the cytoplasm of cells and does not involve the mitochondria.
  5. Anaerobic cellular respiration provides less energy than aerobic cellular respiration, but provides energy more quickly.

Common misconception

Learners often assume there is only one type of cellular respiration (aerobic).

This lesson explores aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration in humans.

Keywords

  • Anaerobic cellular respiration - Anaerobic cellular respiration is a type of cellular respiration that does not use oxygen and takes place in the cytoplasm of cells.

  • Lactic acid - Lactic acid is a product of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans which causes muscle cramps.

  • Cytoplasm - The cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance inside a cell where chemical reactions of the cell take place.

  • Aerobic cellular respiration - Aerobic cellular respiration is a type of respiration that requires oxygen and takes place in the mitochondria and cytoplasm of cells.

Have a student volunteer to do a wall sit for as long as possible. Ask them why they needed to stop. They may describe a burning sensation in their muscles. Use this experience to introduce the idea of lactic acid leading to muscle cramps.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The image shows an animal cell. Which letter is the cytoplasm?
An image in a quiz
A
B
Correct answer: C
D
Q2.
One of a cell’s functions is to contract and relax to help move the skeleton.
Correct Answer: muscle, Muscle
Q3.
What happens to the amount we breathe during exercise?
Decreases
Correct answer: Increases
Stays the same
Q4.
State the name of the sugar that cells use as a fuel during cellular respiration.
Correct Answer: glucose, Glucose
Q5.
Complete the word summary of the products and reactants of aerobic cellular respiration.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: carbon dioxide, CO2
Q6.
In 'aerobic cellular respiration' what does the prefix 'aero' mean?
Correct Answer: air, 'air', Air
Q1 UYSEG

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the word summary of the products and reactants of aerobic cellular respiration.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: water, H2O, Water
Q2.
Complete the word summary of the products and reactants of anaerobic cellular respiration in humans:
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: glucose, Glucose
Q3.
Anaerobic cellular respiration occurs in humans when gas is not present.
Correct Answer: oxygen, O2, Oxygen
Q4.
Where in the cell does anaerobic cellular respiration occur?
An image in a quiz
cell membrane
Correct answer: cytoplasm
mitochondria
nucleus
Q5.
What is the name of the acid that causes muscle cramps during intense exercise?
Correct Answer: lactic acid, lactic, Lactic acid
Q6.
Which of the following statements are true?
Correct answer: Anaerobic respiration provides energy more quickly than aerobic respiration.
Anaerobic respiration provides more energy than aerobic respiration.
Aerobic respiration provides energy more quickly than anaerobic respiration.
Correct answer: Aerobic respiration provides more energy than anaerobic respiration.