👉 Aerobic respiration, or aerobic metabolism, is the process by which cells generate energy in the presence of oxygen. This process occurs primarily in the mitochondria and involves the breakdown of glucose (sugar) through a series of metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation. During glycolysis, glucose is converted into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH. Pyruvate then enters the mitochondria, where it is further oxidized in the Krebs cycle, generating more NADH and FADH2. These electron carriers donate electrons to the electron transport chain, which is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. As electrons flow through the chain, protons are pumped across the membrane, creating a gradient that drives ATP synthesis via chemiosmosis. This efficient process yields a large amount of ATP (approximately 36-38 molecules per glucose molecule), making aerobic respiration much more energy-efficient than anaerobic processes like fermentation.
