KEY CONCEPT

The overall process of cellular

respiration converts sugar into
ATP using oxygen.
Cellular respiration makes ATP by
breaking down sugars.
• Cellular respiration is aerobic, or requires oxygen.
• Aerobic stages take place in mitochondria.

mitochondrion

animal cell
• Glycolysis must take place first.
– anaerobic process (does not require oxygen)
– takes place in cytoplasm
– splits glucose into two three-carbon molecules
– produces two ATP molecules
Cellular respiration is like a mirror
image of photosynthesis.
• The Krebs cycle transfers energy to an electron
transport chain.
– takes place in Krebs Cycle
mitochondrial matrix 1 mitochondrion ATP
matrix (area enclosed and
– breaks down three-carbon by inner membrane)6CO
2
molecules from glycolysis
energy
2
3
– makes a small amount of energy from
glycolysis inner membrane ATP

ATP 6O2
and
and
6H2 O

– releases carbon dioxide

– transfers energy-carrying 4
molecules
• The electron transport chain produces a large amount of
ATP.
– takes place in inner
membrane of the
1 mitochondrion
mitochondria matrix (area enclosed
ATP

and
by inner membrane)
– energy transferred to 6CO2

electron transport
energy
chain Electron Transport 2
3
– oxygen enters energy from
glycolysis inner membrane ATP
process and
and 6H2 O
– ATP produced 6O2

– water released as a
4
waste product
The equation for the overall process is:
C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O + 38 ATP

• The reactants in photosynthesis are the same as the

products of cellular respiration.