What two components does aerobic metabolism use to create energy?

Aerobic metabolism relies on oxygen and glycogen to produce energy for the body's activities. When an organism engages in sustained, low to moderate-intensity exercise, aerobic metabolism becomes the primary energy source, enabling prolonged activity.

Oxygen is essential because it allows for the complete breakdown of glycogen (a form of carbohydrate stored in the muscles and liver) into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. This process is significantly more efficient than anaerobic metabolism, which can only partially break down glucose and leads to the production of lactic acid.

Understanding the role of oxygen and glycogen illuminates why this pairing is vital for endurance activities in both humans and horses, where sustainable energy is required over long durations. The other options do not represent the correct components utilized in aerobic metabolism: light and heat are not energy sources for metabolic processes, carbon dioxide and water are byproducts rather than sources, and proteins serve primarily as a secondary energy source or for tissue repair rather than the primary fuel for aerobic metabolism.