Cellular Respiration Overview

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary related to cellular respiration, metabolic pathways, and energy production.

Cellular Respiration

The process where cells break down food to make ATP, which is usable energy.

ATP

An energy-carrying molecule; cells use the energy stored in its phosphate bonds.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, like plants using photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that need to eat other organisms to get energy, as they cannot make their own food.

Redox Reactions

Chemical reactions involving the transfer of electrons; one molecule loses electrons (oxidation) and another gains them (reduction).

Oxidation

When a molecule gives up electrons.

Reduction

When a molecule accepts electrons.

Electron Carriers

Molecules like NAD and FAD that transport electrons during cellular respiration.

Phosphorylation

Adding a phosphate group to a molecule, often making it more reactive.

Substrate-level Phosphorylation

Directly making ATP by transferring a phosphate group from a substrate to ADP.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

Making ATP using the electron transport chain and a proton gradient (chemiosmosis).

Glycolysis

The first step of cellular respiration, breaking glucose into pyruvate, making a small amount of ATP and NADH.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A cycle of reactions in aerobic organisms that oxidizes acetyl CoA to create energy carriers (NADH, FADH₂) and some ATP.

Chemoosmosis

The movement of hydrogen ions across a membrane, driving ATP production.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process that allows glycolysis to continue making ATP when oxygen is absent.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Fermentation in muscle cells produces lactic acid when oxygen is low.

Alcohol Fermentation

Yeast cells convert sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide, used in brewing.

Homeostasis

The ability of living things to keep their internal conditions stable and balanced.

Feedback Controls

Mechanisms that adjust metabolic pathways based on the levels of reactants and products.