Aerobic Cellular Respiration

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to aerobic cellular respiration, including processes, definitions, and reactions involved.

Aerobic Cellular Respiration

The process of converting energy stored in organic molecules into ATP in the presence of oxygen.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The energy currency of the cell that provides energy for various cellular processes.

Glucose

A simple sugar that is a primary energy source for cells and must be converted into ATP.

Redox reaction

A chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons, where oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a molecule.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a molecule.

Electron carriers

Molecules that transfer electrons between other molecules during cellular respiration, such as NAD+ and FAD.

Glycolysis

The first stage of cellular respiration where glucose is broken down into two pyruvate molecules, yielding ATP and NADH.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

The second stage of cellular respiration that processes acetyl CoA to produce CO2, ATP, NADH, and FADH2.

Oxidative phosphorylation

The final stage of cellular respiration where ATP is produced using the energy from the electron transport chain.

Chemiosmosis

The process by which ATP is synthesized using the energy from an electrochemical gradient of hydrogen ions.

Fermentation

A process that allows for ATP production in the absence of oxygen, producing lactate or ethanol and CO2.

Anaerobic respiration

A form of respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen, using alternative electron acceptors.

ATP synthase

An enzyme that synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate using the energy of a proton gradient.

Basal metabolic functions

The basic processes needed to maintain life, including respiration, circulation, and cellular functioning.