Which of the following statements about cellular respiration is correct?

The statement that cellular respiration consists of glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain is accurate. Cellular respiration is a multi-step process used by cells to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of the cell.

Glycolysis, which occurs in the cytoplasm, breaks down glucose into pyruvate and generates a small amount of ATP and NADH. The pyruvate then enters the mitochondria, where the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle) takes place. This cycle further processes the pyruvate, releasing carbon dioxide and generating electron carriers like NADH and FADH2. These carriers then feed into the electron transport chain, located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, where a significant amount of ATP is produced through oxidative phosphorylation.

This systematic approach illustrates how cellular respiration efficiently converts energy stored in glucose into usable ATP while also producing byproducts such as carbon dioxide and water. Understanding this complete overview of cellular respiration is essential for grasping how cells harness energy from organic compounds.