Human Cellular Respiration: Products & Process Explained

Cellular respiration converts glucose to ATP in four stages:

1. Glycolysis (cytoplasm): Glucose → 2 pyruvate + 2 ATP + 2 NADH
2. Pyruvate oxidation (mitochondrial matrix): 2 pyruvate → 2 acetyl-CoA + 2 CO₂ + 2 NADH
3. Krebs cycle (matrix): 2 acetyl-CoA → 4 CO₂ + 2 ATP + 6 NADH + 2 FADH₂
4. Oxidative phosphorylation (inner mitochondrial membrane): NADH/FADH₂ → electron transport chain → ~28–34 ATP + H₂O

Net yield: ~30–32 ATP per glucose. Waste products: CO₂ (exhaled), H₂O. Oxygen is final electron acceptor.