Cori’s cycle is a term used for which of the follwoing pathway?
**Core Concept**
Cori's cycle, also known as the lactic acid cycle or glucose-lactate cycle, is a metabolic pathway that describes the conversion of glucose to lactate and back to glucose in the liver and muscles. This cycle is crucial for maintaining energy homeostasis during intense exercise or hypoxia.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
During intense exercise, muscles break down glucose to produce energy through anaerobic glycolysis, resulting in the production of lactate. The lactate is then transported to the liver, where it is converted back into glucose through gluconeogenesis, a process catalyzed by the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. This cycle is essential for maintaining blood glucose levels and providing energy to the brain and other tissues.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** This option is incorrect because it refers to the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a different metabolic pathway involved in generating NADPH and pentoses from glucose-6-phosphate.
* **Option B:** This option is incorrect because it refers to the urea cycle, which is a metabolic pathway involved in the elimination of ammonia through the production of urea in the liver.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Cori's cycle is an essential mechanism for maintaining energy homeostasis during intense exercise or hypoxia, and it highlights the liver's role in regulating blood glucose levels.
**Correct Answer:** C. Cori's cycle is a term used for the glucose-lactate cycle.