Honors Blood, Sweat, and Air

cellular respiration

Set of processes that releases energy by breaking down glucose

mitochondria

An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur.

ATP

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

Glucose

the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues.

water

byproduct of aerobic respiration, kept in cells

Oxygen

final electron acceptor in the ETC

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

gas produced during the breakdown of pyruvate in Kreb's Cycle

Aerobic

Process that requires oxygen

Anaerobic

Process that does not require oxygen

food

source of energy and building materials

Cytoplasm

A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended, site of glycolysis

Glycolysis

first step in releasing the energy of glucose, in which a molecule of glucose is broken into two molecules

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

completes the breakdown of glucose

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

uses the high-energy electrons from the Krebs cycle to generate ATP

Electron

negatively charged particle that powers the formation of ATP

NADH and FADH2

electron carriers

lactic acid

Produced in muscle cells under anaerobic conditions) so that glycolysis can continue. A rise in lactic acid usually accompanies an increase in physical activity.

pyruvate (pyruvic acid)

a three-carbon molecule formed from glucose during glycolysis

ADP

a lower-energy molecule that can be converted into ATP by the addition of a phosphate group

Fermentation

anaerobic process done by some bacteria and yeast that produces ethanol