What is the Role of Metabolic Pathways in Energy Production?
Metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation are integral to energy production. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP. Pyruvate then enters the mitochondria, where the citric acid cycle generates electron carriers that fuel oxidative phosphorylation. This last stage produces the bulk of ATP in cells. Understanding these pathways helps histologists decipher cellular energy dynamics and their implications for tissue health and disease.
