Final answer:
The three key stages of cellular respiration are glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. This biological process is crucial for converting glucose into usable energy in the form of ATP, taking place within the cytoplasm and mitochondria of cells with oxygen playing a vital role in the final stages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main processes that make up cellular respiration are glycolysis, Krebs cycle (also called the citric acid cycle), and the electron transport chain. These processes convert glucose and oxygen into energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
Glycolysis is the initial stage of cellular respiration where glucose is converted into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH. It takes place in the cytoplasm and is anaerobic, meaning it does not require oxygen. The next step is the transformation of pyruvate into Acetyl CoA, which enters the mitochondria for the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle further oxidizes the Acetyl CoA, releasing carbon dioxide, generating NADH, FADH2, and ATP. Lastly, during the electron transport chain, which occurs in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, electrons are passed down a series of carriers, leading to the production of a considerable amount of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Oxygen is essential in this final stage as it acts as the final electron acceptor, forming water as a byproduct.