Final answer:
The breakdown of lipids involves the hydrolysis of triglycerides into glycerol and fatty acids, and is known as lipolysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The breakdown of lipids is known as lipolysis, where triglycerides are hydrolyzed into glycerol and fatty acids. This process is integral to lipid metabolism, which begins in the intestine where ingested triglycerides are broken down into monoglycerides and shorter chain fatty acids by pancreatic lipases after emulsification by bile salts.
Once triglycerides are broken down during lipolysis, the resulting fatty acids are further oxidized by β-oxidation into acetyl CoA, which is then used in the Krebs cycle to generate ATP, especially when glucose levels are low.
Glycerol, also released during lipolysis, directly enters the glycolysis pathway. As a result, lipolysis is essential for providing energy to the body and is especially important when carbohydrates are scarce.