Which process is involved in cardiomyocyte energy production?

Cardiomyocytes, or heart muscle cells, primarily rely on aerobic respiration for energy production. This process occurs in the mitochondria of the cells and uses oxygen to break down glucose, fatty acids, and other substrates to generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Aerobic respiration is highly efficient, yielding a significant amount of ATP per glucose molecule (about 36-38 ATP), which is essential for the constant and substantial energy demands of the heart.

In addition to glucose, cardiomyocytes can utilize fatty acids as a key energy source, which undergo beta-oxidation. However, the term "beta-oxidation" refers specifically to the breakdown of fatty acids, and while it is an important process, it is part of the larger context of aerobic respiration.

Fermentation, on the other hand, is an anaerobic process that does not require oxygen and results in far less ATP production, making it unsuitable for the heart, which operates in an oxygen-rich environment. Glycolysis is the initial step in glucose metabolism, producing a modest amount of ATP without oxygen, but it too is insufficient on its own as a long-term energy source for the heart.

Thus, aerobic respiration is the primary and most relevant process involved in