Question

When heart muscles cells are deprived of oxygen, the heart still pumps. what must the heart cells be able to do? transform lactate back to pyruvate remove oxygen from lactate remove lactate from the blood derive sufficient energy from fermentation continue aerobic metabolism when skeletal muscle cannot?

Answer 1

The heart cells must be able to continue aerobic metabolism when skeletal muscle cannot. Aerobic metabolism is a part of cellular respiration and involves body cells making energy through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport/oxidative. It is done in the heart at a rate below 85% of maximum heart rate and does not use vigorous muscle contraction. fatty acids , ketone bodies and carbohydrates are the primary substrates of the heart metabolized to generate ATP. The metabolic demands of the heart are the largest than any other organ in the body, and normal cardiac metabolism is required to fuel contractile function and viability.