Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) Practice Test

What general category of metabolism includes the breakdown of molecules for energy?

1. Catabolism

2. Anabolism

3. Glycolysis

4. Fermentation

The correct answer is: Catabolism

The correct answer is catabolism, which refers to the general category of metabolism that involves the breakdown of large molecules into smaller ones, specifically for the purpose of releasing energy. This process is essential for generating ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is used as a primary energy carrier in cells. In contrast, anabolic processes are responsible for building complex molecules from simpler ones, thus using energy rather than releasing it. Glycolysis is a specific pathway within catabolism that breaks down glucose to produce energy, while fermentation is a metabolic process that can occur in the absence of oxygen, also related to the breakdown of substrates to release energy. However, both glycolysis and fermentation are subsets of the broader category of catabolism, which encompasses various metabolic pathways aimed at energy production.