Cellular Respiration Overview

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

Calorie

The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Cellular Respiration

The process that releases energy from food in the presence of oxygen.

Glycolysis

The first stage of cellular respiration, occurring in the cytoplasm, where glucose is split into two pyruvate molecules, resulting in a net gain of 2 ATP.

Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)

The second stage of cellular respiration that occurs in the mitochondria, where pyruvic acid is broken down to produce NADH, FADH2, and ATP.

Electron Transport Chain (E.T.C.)

The final stage of cellular respiration that uses electrons from NADH and FADH2 to generate ATP and produce water.

Aerobic

Processes that require oxygen, such as the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain.

Anaerobic

Processes that do not directly require oxygen, such as glycolysis and fermentation.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

NADH

An electron carrier that transports electrons to the electron transport chain.

FADH2

An electron carrier produced in the Krebs cycle that also donates electrons to the electron transport chain.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that generates ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during oxidative phosphorylation.

Pyruvate

The end product of glycolysis, which can enter the Krebs cycle if oxygen is present.