dictionary help| lactic acid | medical dictionary |
A byproduct of carbohydrate metabolism (anaerobic metabolism). A lactic acid level may be measured in the bloodstream in conditions of metabolic acidosis.
Lactic acid is an intermediate product of carbohydrate metabolism and is derived mainly from muscle cells and red blood cells.
Exercise will normally raise lactic acid levels. Conditions of oxygen deprivation (for example shock, heart failure, lung disease) will trigger anaerobic metabolism within muscle tissue resulting in lactic acid build up in the tissues.
Normal lactic acid levels are 4.5 to 19.8 mg/dl.
(25 Jun 1999)
lactenin, lactescence, lactescent, lactic < Prev | Next > lactic acid bacillus, lactic acid bacteria
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