The number of metabolic steps required for the oxidation of glucose to form lactic acid

Options

A. 8
B. 9
C. 10
D. 11

Answer

To determine the number of metabolic steps required for the oxidation of glucose to form lactic acid, we can break down the process as follows:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Glycolysis**:
- Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and does not require oxygen.

2. **Counting Glycolysis Steps**:
- Glycolysis consists of a series of 10 enzymatic reactions (steps) that convert one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate.

3. **Conversion of Pyruvate to Lactic Acid**:
- Under anaerobic conditions (absence of oxygen), pyruvate is converted into lactic acid. This conversion involves one additional enzymatic step.

4. **Total Steps Calculation**:
- Therefore, the total number of metabolic steps required for the complete conversion of glucose to lactic acid is the sum of the steps in glycolysis (10 steps) and the step converting pyruvate to lactic acid (1 step).
- Total Steps = 10 (glycolysis) + 1 (pyruvate to lactic acid) = 11 steps.

5. **Final Answer**:
- The total number of metabolic steps required for the oxidation of glucose to form lactic acid is **11**.