The primary reason that drowning can result in death, even with other signaling systems in the human body, is primarily due to the lack of oxygen, which is essential for aerobic respiration. During aerobic respiration, oxygen is required for the efficient production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the mitochondria. ATP is the energy currency of the cell, essential for numerous cellular functions including maintaining ion gradients, muscle contraction, and overall cellular metabolism.
When a person drowns, their ability to intake oxygen is severely compromised. Without oxygen, the mitochondria cannot effectively carry out the oxidative phosphorylation process needed to produce ATP. As ATP levels drop, cellular functions begin to fail, leading to cell death. Other cellular metabolites, such as pyruvate and NADH, can accumulate under anaerobic conditions (when oxygen is absent), but the critical issue remains that the lack of oxygen ultimately stops ATP production, which is vital for cell survival.
In summary, while other systems might signal distress or attempt to compensate, the fundamental requirement for oxygen in aerobic ATP production is crucial, and without it, cells (and ultimately the organism) cannot survive. Therefore, "Oxygen is required for high-quantity adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, and ATP is required for cells to survive" is the most accurate reasoning.
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