Higher Human Biology respiration is a complex process that occurs in cells to break down glucose and release energy. This process involves three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain. These stages work together to produce ATP, the energy currency of cells, through a series of enzyme-controlled reactions.
Key points:
- Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and breaks down glucose into pyruvate
- The citric acid cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix
- The electron transport chain on the inner mitochondrial membrane produces the bulk of ATP
- Oxidative phosphorylation is the primary method of ATP production in aerobic respiration
- Specialized cells like muscle and nerve cells have numerous mitochondria to meet high energy demands