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Stephanie๐
11/24/2025
Biology
Cellular Respiration Notes
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Nov 24, 2025
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Comprehensive Cellular Respiration Slides
Stephanie๐
@stephanie_071607
1 / 4
What is Cellular Respiration?
Ever wonder how your body gets energy from the sandwich you eat? That's cellular respiration! It's the process animal cells use to extract power from food through a series of chemical reactions.
When your cells break down glucose (sugar), they produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is essentially the energy currency of your body. Think of ATP as the "money" your cells spend to do everything - run, jump, think, and even grow.
Without cellular respiration, you wouldn't be able to do anything - not even read this page! Your cells need ATP to power literally everything they do.
Fun Fact: Your body is constantly making ATP! Right now, as you're reading this, millions of your cells are busy converting the food you ate into energy you can use.
The Equation and Cell Parts
The cellular respiration equation is actually pretty simple: Glucose + Oxygen โ Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP energy
This is similar to how a car burns fuel - your cells "burn" glucose with oxygen to release energy, and produce carbon dioxide and water as waste products.
Before we dive deeper, let's remember where this happens in your cells. The star player is the mitochondrion (mitochondria for plural). These are often called the "powerhouses of the cell" because they generate most of your ATP energy.
Cellular respiration begins in the cytoplasm but the major energy production happens inside the mitochondria. Think of mitochondria as tiny power plants working 24/7 to keep your body running!
Remember This: The number of mitochondria in your cells depends on how much energy that cell needs. Your muscle cells have LOTS of mitochondria because muscles need tons of energy!
Step 1 & 2: Glycolysis and Krebs Cycle
Glycolysis is the first step in cellular respiration. The word literally means "sugar breaking." During glycolysis, your cells break down glucose into a substance called pyruvate, releasing a small amount of ATP energy in the process.
The cool thing about glycolysis is that it happens right in the cytoplasm of your cells and doesn't need oxygen. It's like the appetizer before the main course of energy production!
Next comes the Krebs Cycle (also called the citric acid cycle), which happens inside the mitochondria. Unlike glycolysis, this step needs oxygen to work - that's why we breathe! During this cycle, more energy is extracted from the fuel molecules.
The Krebs Cycle converts ADP (the "spent" form of ATP) back into energy-rich ATP by adding a third phosphate group. Think of it like recharging a battery so it can be used again!
Wow Factor: Every time you take a breath, you're providing oxygen for the Krebs Cycle in trillions of your cells!
Step 3: Electron Transport Chain and ATP Production
The final step, the Electron Transport Chain, is where the real energy magic happens! Located deep in the mitochondrial membrane, this chain of proteins acts like a cellular assembly line for energy.
As electrons move through this chain, they create a gradient of protons (like a biological battery). This gradient drives the production of ATP - much like water flowing over a dam generates electricity!
When cellular respiration is complete, your cells have converted a single glucose molecule into approximately 30-38 ATP molecules. That's a pretty impressive energy return!
You're using this ATP energy right now to read this text, think about what you're learning, and even to sit or stand. Cellular respiration never stops working as long as you're alive!
Mind Blower: Your body recycles and reuses ATP about 1,000 times per day. That means each ATP molecule gets "spent" and "recharged" about 1,000 times every 24 hours!
We thought youโd never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help โ all at your fingertips.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us โ and so will you.
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App Store
4.8/5
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Comprehensive Cellular Respiration Slides
Stephanie๐
@stephanie_071607
Cellular respiration is how your cells turn the food you eat into energy you can use. This process breaks down glucose (sugar) to create ATP, the energy currency that powers everything your body does, from thinking to moving to growing.
What is Cellular Respiration?
Ever wonder how your body gets energy from the sandwich you eat? That's cellular respiration! It's the process animal cells use to extract power from food through a series of chemical reactions.
When your cells break down glucose (sugar), they produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is essentially the energy currency of your body. Think of ATP as the "money" your cells spend to do everything - run, jump, think, and even grow.
Without cellular respiration, you wouldn't be able to do anything - not even read this page! Your cells need ATP to power literally everything they do.
Fun Fact: Your body is constantly making ATP! Right now, as you're reading this, millions of your cells are busy converting the food you ate into energy you can use.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Equation and Cell Parts
The cellular respiration equation is actually pretty simple: Glucose + Oxygen โ Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP energy
This is similar to how a car burns fuel - your cells "burn" glucose with oxygen to release energy, and produce carbon dioxide and water as waste products.
Before we dive deeper, let's remember where this happens in your cells. The star player is the mitochondrion (mitochondria for plural). These are often called the "powerhouses of the cell" because they generate most of your ATP energy.
Cellular respiration begins in the cytoplasm but the major energy production happens inside the mitochondria. Think of mitochondria as tiny power plants working 24/7 to keep your body running!
Remember This: The number of mitochondria in your cells depends on how much energy that cell needs. Your muscle cells have LOTS of mitochondria because muscles need tons of energy!
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Improve your grades
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Step 1 & 2: Glycolysis and Krebs Cycle
Glycolysis is the first step in cellular respiration. The word literally means "sugar breaking." During glycolysis, your cells break down glucose into a substance called pyruvate, releasing a small amount of ATP energy in the process.
The cool thing about glycolysis is that it happens right in the cytoplasm of your cells and doesn't need oxygen. It's like the appetizer before the main course of energy production!
Next comes the Krebs Cycle (also called the citric acid cycle), which happens inside the mitochondria. Unlike glycolysis, this step needs oxygen to work - that's why we breathe! During this cycle, more energy is extracted from the fuel molecules.
The Krebs Cycle converts ADP (the "spent" form of ATP) back into energy-rich ATP by adding a third phosphate group. Think of it like recharging a battery so it can be used again!
Wow Factor: Every time you take a breath, you're providing oxygen for the Krebs Cycle in trillions of your cells!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Step 3: Electron Transport Chain and ATP Production
The final step, the Electron Transport Chain, is where the real energy magic happens! Located deep in the mitochondrial membrane, this chain of proteins acts like a cellular assembly line for energy.
As electrons move through this chain, they create a gradient of protons (like a biological battery). This gradient drives the production of ATP - much like water flowing over a dam generates electricity!
When cellular respiration is complete, your cells have converted a single glucose molecule into approximately 30-38 ATP molecules. That's a pretty impressive energy return!
You're using this ATP energy right now to read this text, think about what you're learning, and even to sit or stand. Cellular respiration never stops working as long as you're alive!
Mind Blower: Your body recycles and reuses ATP about 1,000 times per day. That means each ATP molecule gets "spent" and "recharged" about 1,000 times every 24 hours!
We thought youโd never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help โ all at your fingertips.
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4.8/5
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user