<P> Glycolysis , which means `` sugar splitting , '' is the initial process in the cellular respiration pathway . Glycolysis can be either an aerobic or anaerobic process . When oxygen is present , glycolysis continues along the aerobic respiration pathway . If oxygen is not present , then ATP production is restricted to anaerobic respiration . The location where glycolysis , aerobic or anaerobic , occurs is in the cytosol of the cell . In glycolysis , a six - carbon glucose molecule is split into two three - carbon molecules called pyruvate . These carbon molecules are oxidized into NADH and ATP . For the glucose molecule to oxidize into pyruvate , an input of ATP molecules is required . This is known as the investment phase , in which a total of two ATP molecules are consumed . At the end of glycolysis , the total yield of ATP is four molecules , but the net gain is two ATP molecules . Even though ATP is synthesized , the two ATP molecules produced are few compared to the second and third pathways , Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation . </P>
<P> Glycolysis , which means `` sugar splitting , '' is the initial process in the cellular respiration pathway . Glycolysis can be either an aerobic or anaerobic process . When oxygen is present , glycolysis continues along the aerobic respiration pathway . If oxygen is not present , then ATP production is restricted to anaerobic respiration . The location where glycolysis , aerobic or anaerobic , occurs is in the cytosol of the cell . In glycolysis , a six - carbon glucose molecule is split into two three - carbon molecules called pyruvate . These carbon molecules are oxidized into NADH and ATP . For the glucose molecule to oxidize into pyruvate , an input of ATP molecules is required . This is known as the investment phase , in which a total of two ATP molecules are consumed . At the end of glycolysis , the total yield of ATP is four molecules , but the net gain is two ATP molecules . Even though ATP is synthesized , the two ATP molecules produced are few compared to the second and third pathways , Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation . </P>
the breakdown of glucose to atp and pyruvic acid is called
the breakdown of glucose to atp and pyruvic acid is called
Glycolysis
Glycolysis