Aerobic metabolism uses oxygen to create ATP, the body’s energy source, through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain. Anaerobic metabolism occurs without oxygen, but is not sustainable. Aerobic metabolism generates about 36 ATP molecules, while anaerobic respiration generates only 10%.
Aerobic metabolism uses oxygen to remove energy from glucose and stores it in a biological molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the human body’s energy source, and the breakdown of ATP molecules releases energy that is used for a variety of biological processes, including the movement of molecules across membranes. Aerobic metabolism is also called aerobic respiration, cellular respiration and aerobic cellular respiration. Anaerobic metabolism is another form of metabolism, but it occurs without oxygen, but the human body is not built to maintain anaerobic respiration for a long time, and doing so causes great stress.
The first stage of aerobic metabolism is called glycolysis. Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. Complex sugars are broken down into glucose by a variety of enzymes and this glucose is then further broken down into two molecules of pyruvic acid, otherwise known as pyruvate. The energy released by this breakdown is stored in two ATP molecules. Glycolysis is unique in that it is the only stage of metabolism that occurs in the cytoplasm and the other two stages occur within the mitochondria.
In the second stage of aerobic metabolism, called the citric acid cycle, the two pyruvate molecules are used to create energy-rich reducing molecules which are used later in the respiration process. Some of these molecules can be converted directly into ATP if needed, although this is not always the case. Water and carbon dioxide are produced as waste products of this cycle, which is why humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. The citric acid cycle, like glycolysis, produces 2 ATP.
The final stage of aerobic metabolism is called the electron transport chain and occurs on the inner membrane of the mitochondria. In this stage, energy-rich molecules derived from the citric acid cycle are used to sustain a positive charge gradient, called the chemiosmotic gradient, which is used to generate many ATP molecules. This step generates the majority of ATP from the aerobic metabolic process, creating an average of about 32 ATP molecules. After the electron transport chain generates ATP, the energy-rich molecules are free to be reused by the citric acid cycle.
Aerobic metabolism generates about 36 ATP molecules. Anaerobic respiration generates only ten percent of that amount. The use of oxygen is very important at the end of the electron transport chain, as it helps the chemiosmotic gradient. The existence of an oxygen dependent metabolism is why mitochondria are commonly known as the powerhouse of the body.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
