Aerobic Pathway

If there is enough molecular oxygen available to a cell, the cell can continue to extract energy from pyruvate using the aerobic pathway.

There are four phases of the aerobic pathway. Those phases in order are:

• The Transition Phase

• The Kreb's Cycle

• The Electron Transport System

• Chemiosmosis

  • Note - The electron transport system and chemiosmosis are collectively referred to as oxidative phosphorylation

Whereas the steps of glycolysis all took place out in the cytoplasm, all of the steps involved with the aerobic pathway take place in special organelles called the mitochondria which is pictured below.

You will learn more about the structure and function of mitochondria later. Now continue by clicking on the link for the transition phase on the left-side menu bar.