Where is the majority of ATP produced in cellular respiration?

The majority of ATP during cellular respiration is produced during oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport chain, which takes place in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. This process involves a series of protein complexes that transfer electrons derived from NADH and FADH2, which are generated in earlier stages of respiration such as glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.

As electrons move through this chain, their energy is used to pump protons from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space, creating a proton gradient. The return flow of protons back into the matrix through ATP synthase drives the synthesis of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. This mechanism of ATP production is highly efficient and is responsible for generating the bulk of the ATP produced in cellular respiration, surpassing amounts generated during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.

In contrast, glycolysis produces a limited amount of ATP directly through substrate-level phosphorylation, and while the citric acid cycle also contributes a small number of ATP, oxidative phosphorylation is the primary ATP-generating mechanism in the overall process of cellular respiration.