What is the function of the citric acid cycle in cellular respiration?

The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle or TCA cycle, plays a crucial role in cellular respiration by generating electron carriers and a small amount of ATP. During this cycle, acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, or proteins is oxidized to produce carbon dioxide and high-energy electron carriers, specifically NADH and FADH2. These electron carriers are vital as they transport electrons to the electron transport chain, where their energy is used to produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

Additionally, the cycle also directly produces ATP (or a similar high-energy molecule, GTP) but it's the generation of the electron carriers that is most significant as they are the key components that drive the majority of ATP synthesis in the latter stages of cellular respiration. Thus, the primary function of the citric acid cycle is to facilitate energy extraction from nutrients by producing these critical electron carriers that fuel further energy production in the cell.