Metabolism, Intermediary

intracellular metabolism; the transformation of matter in the body from the moment of its entry into the cells to the formation of the metabolic end products. The term does not refer to digestion and assimilation in the gastrointestinal tract, the formation of mineral compounds in bone tissue, or the formation of a number of other substances and fluids. The process differs in different cell organelles. Thus, glycolysis occurs predominantly in the cytoplasm, oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria, and protein biosynthesis in the ribosomes.