In which part of the cell does cellular respiration primarily occur?

Cellular respiration primarily occurs in the mitochondria, which are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell. This organelle is specifically equipped to carry out the stages of cellular respiration, including the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, where energy stored in glucose is converted into ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The inner membrane of the mitochondria contains the necessary enzymes and proteins that facilitate these crucial biochemical processes.

While some early stages of cellular respiration, such as glycolysis, take place in the cytoplasm, the majority of ATP production happens in the mitochondria. The role of the nucleus is mainly related to the storage and transmission of genetic information rather than energy production, and ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis. Therefore, the mitochondria are essential for the energy conversion processes that fuel cellular activities.