The three stages of glucose oxidation are glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. They are connected in a metabolic pathway where the end product of one stage serves as the starting substrate for the next stage. Glycolysis breaks down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate, which enters the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle further breaks down pyruvate to produce energy-rich molecules such as NADH and FADH2, which then participate in oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation uses these energy-rich molecules to generate ATP, the main source of energy for cells. Thus, the three stages of glucose oxidation are interdependent and work together to produce ATP and provide energy for cellular processes.
