The Cori Cycle

The Cori cycle (Figure 16.5) is an organismal mechanism for meeting the glucose needs of a body at exercise. Muscles at work produce lactate from glycolysis when oxygen becomes limiting. Lactate is transported from the muscles to the liver via the bloodstream. In the liver, lactate is converted (via gluconeogenesis) back to glucose, where it is dumped back into the bloodstream for transport to muscle.

See also: Lactate Dehydrogenase, Glucose-Alanine Cycle, Figure 20.14