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Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration

How cells transfer energy from fuel molecules into ATP, often using oxygen in the final electron-accepting step.

Overview

EXPLORE BY LEVEL

Cells can take energy from food in stages. Glycolysis begins breaking down ; in many human cells, later reactions and help capture more of that energy as ATP.

Quick Facts

AT A GLANCE
Explore nextMetabolism

Follow the Connections

See how Cellular Respiration links to other biological records.

Open network
PathwayGlycolysisbegins withPathwayOxidative Phosphorylationtransfers electrons toProcessCarbon CycleincludesProcessPhotosynthesiscontrasts with
All 4 Structured Connections
Cellular Respiration · ProcessBEGINS WITH →Glycolysis · Pathway
Cellular Respiration · ProcessTRANSFERS ELECTRONS TO →Oxidative Phosphorylation · Pathway
Carbon Cycle · ProcessINCLUDES →Cellular Respiration · Process
Photosynthesis · ProcessCONTRASTS WITH →Cellular Respiration · Process

Recommended Reading

Trusted references for learning more about Cellular Respiration.

textbookMolecular Biology of the Cell: glycolysis (NBK26882)Alberts et al. · NCBI Bookshelf textbookThe Mechanism of Oxidative PhosphorylationThe Cell · NCBI Bookshelf textbookBiogeochemical CyclesOpenStax Biology 2e textbookOverview of PhotosynthesisOpenStax Biology 2e
Research Claims

Respiratory ATP production couples substrate oxidation, electron transfer, proton translocation, and ATP synthase. The contribution of each route varies with tissue, substrate, oxygen availability, and mitochondrial state.