Anaerobic metabolism uses carbohydrates, primarily glucose as fuel. It is the enzymatic conversion of glucose to lactate or pyruvate resulting in energy that is stored in a form called ATP.
This process usually occurs in the muscles when an organism needs a sudden, short-term burst of energy or during periods of intense exertion or activity.
During anaerobic or non-oxygen conditions, muscles cells must rely on other reactions that do not require oxygen to fuel muscle contraction. The term anaerobic simply refers to the absence of oxygen.