The cellular respiration process
. . . to the previous page
After eating, the body stores its digested food as glycogen. Glycogen is
made in the liver. The liver is a large glycogen storage depot. As the body needs glucose
(or fuel), a glycogen reserve is made available. Glycogen is broken down into molecules of
glucose supplying the body's immediate energy needs.
| Glucose |
| + |
 |
|
 |
Cellular
Respiration |
|
|
 |
+ |
 |
| + |
 |
Glucose is the fuel the body burns to create energy, which is needed by each cell
in order to do the job it was born to do. It's the process of cellular respiration
that turns food (fuel) and oxygen (air) into useable energy. The energy is called ATP.
No matter where a cell is in the body, when there is a need for power, the energy source
is the same: ATP energy.
Think about it, ATP energy is fueled by glucose. Glucose is stored energy that came
from the sun. As our bodies release the energy in glucose, we are releasing stored sun
energy. We humans are in fact -- fantastically complex sun machines!
In the next few minutes, we'll show you the transformation from stored energy
(in glucose) to the active energy (in muscles.) It is "active"
energy the body uses to move our legs muscles for walking.
. . . continued on the next
page |
