What process occurs when glucose is metabolized in the absence of oxygen?

When glucose is metabolized in the absence of oxygen, the process that occurs is referred to as anaerobic metabolism. This pathway allows cells to produce energy without relying on oxygen, which is particularly important in situations where oxygen is scarce or unavailable.

During anaerobic metabolism, glucose undergoes glycolysis, which breaks it down into pyruvate. In the absence of oxygen, pyruvate is then converted into either lactic acid or ethanol, depending on the type of organism. In humans and many animals, the primary outcome of this process is lactic acid fermentation. However, the broader term for this energy production mechanism in low or no oxygen environments is anaerobic metabolism.

By understanding this, you can appreciate that both lactic acid fermentation and anaerobic metabolism are linked processes, but the term anaerobic metabolism encompasses various types of fermentation and metabolic activities that occur when oxygen is not present.