Anaerobic

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Applying to metabolism in the cells of the body, or to micro-organisms, this means functioning without oxygen. Examples include anaerobic glycolysis: the pathway of hexose breakdown from glucose 6-phosphate to lactate in muscle, and the main component of the metabolism of red blood cells, which have no mitochondria. Anaerobic bacteria inhabit the lower part of the intestines. Applying to exercise: more intense than can be maintained in balance with oxygen intake, aerobic pathways being insufficient to supply energy at the required rate (though they always contribute as well) — as in a 200-metre sprint.

— Neil C. Spurway

See exercise; lactate threshold; metabolism.

Without oxygen or not requiring oxygen.

Describing any organism or process which can or must exist without free oxygen from the air, such as the anaerobic bacteria which are responsible for the process of gleying.

Applied to conditions or processes not requiring oxygen; in the absence of oxygen.

A descriptive term for a process, such as fermentation, that can proceed only in the absence of oxygen, or a living thing that can survive only in the absence of oxygen. (Compare aerobic.)

The absence of air.

• a. bacteria — see anaerobe.
• a. effluent treatment — is usually conducted in deep ponds where air does not penetrate. A fully contained system is also available.
• a. exercise — exercise at high work intensity during which the needs of muscle metabolism for oxygen exceeds the capacity of the circulation to supply it and an oxygen debt is incurred.
• a. infection — one caused by aerobic organisms.

Anaerobic is a technical word which literally means without air (where "air" is generally used to mean oxygen), as opposed to aerobic.

In wastewater treatment the absence of oxygen is indicated as anoxic; and anaerobic is used to indicate the absence of a common electron acceptor such as nitrate, sulphate or oxygen. An anaerobic adhesive is a bonding agent that doesn't cure in the presence of air.

Anaerobic refers to:

• Anaerobic clarigester, is a form of anaerobic digester
• Anaerobic contact process, is a type of anaerobic digester
• Anaerobic digestion, (AD) is the harnessed and contained, naturally occurring process of anaerobic decomposition
• Anaerobic environment, an aquatic environment with little available oxygen - see Hypoxia (environmental)
• Anaerobic exercise, a form of exercise
• Anaerobic filter
• Anaerobic lagoon, used to dispose of animal waste, particularly that of cows and pigs
• Anaerobic organism, any organism that does not require oxygen for growth
• Anaerobic respiration, oxidation of molecules in the absence of oxygen
• Anaerobic ammonium oxidation, anammox, the microbial process combining ammonium and nitrite.

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