A is glucose. B is pyruvic acid. C is Acetyl CoA. D is Oxaloacetic acid. E is electron transport chain. F is Citric acid.
Respiration transforms glucose into energy in a sequence of steps. Glycolysis, occurring in the cytoplasm, splits glucose into pyruvate, yielding 2 ATP and 2 NADH.
Pyruvate enters the mitochondria, converting to Acetyl CoA, producing 2 NADH. The citric acid cycle in the mitochondrial matrix generates 2 ATP, 6 NADH, and 2 FADH2.
Oxaloacetic acid combines with Acetyl CoA to initiate the cycle, continually regenerating. Electrons from NADH and FADH2 enter the electron transport chain on the inner mitochondrial membrane, driving ATP synthesis.
Overall, respiration yields approximately 32 to 34 ATP, crucial for cellular functions and sustaining life.