Lack of oxygen in muscles often leads to cramps among cricketers. This results due to

Options

A. conversion of pyruvate to ethanol
B. conversion of pyruvate to glucose
C. non - conversion of glucose to pyruvate
D. conversion of pyruvate to lactic acid

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Context**: When cricketers engage in intense physical activity, their muscles require a lot of energy. This energy is primarily produced through cellular respiration.

2. **Oxygen Supply**: During intense exercise, the demand for oxygen in the muscles may exceed the supply. This leads to a situation where there is a lack of oxygen available for aerobic respiration.

3. **Anaerobic Respiration**: In the absence of sufficient oxygen, muscle cells switch to anaerobic respiration to meet their energy needs. Anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen and occurs in the cytoplasm of the cells.

4. **Glycolysis**: The first step in anaerobic respiration is glycolysis, where glucose is broken down into pyruvate. This process occurs in the cytoplasm and produces a small amount of energy (ATP).

5. **Formation of Lactic Acid**: In anaerobic conditions, the pyruvate produced during glycolysis is further converted into lactic acid. This conversion is crucial as it allows the continuation of ATP production, albeit at a lower efficiency compared to aerobic respiration.

6. **Accumulation of Lactic Acid**: As lactic acid accumulates in the muscle cells due to continuous anaerobic respiration, it leads to a drop in pH within the muscle tissue. This accumulation is what causes muscle cramps.

7. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the cramps experienced by cricketers during intense play are primarily due to the accumulation of lactic acid resulting from anaerobic respiration in the absence of sufficient oxygen.

**Final Answer**: The lack of oxygen in muscles often leads to cramps among cricketers due to the accumulation of lactic acid formed from anaerobic respiration.

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