Clinical Laboratory DX Exam 2 Practice

Ketones are the end product of which metabolic process?

Glycolysis Nucleotide metabolism Protein synthesis Fatty acid breakdown

Correct Answer:

Fatty acid breakdown

Explanation:

Ketones are produced when fatty acids are broken down for energy, especially during fasting or low carbohydrate intake. In the liver, fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to yield acetyl-CoA. If carbohydrate supply is limited, oxaloacetate is diverted to gluconeogenesis, restricting the entry of acetyl-CoA into the citric acid cycle. The excess acetyl-CoA is then used to form ketone bodies—acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone—which are released into the bloodstream and used by tissues (like the brain and muscle) as an alternative energy source during prolonged fasting. Thus, the end products of fatty acid breakdown in this context are ketone bodies.

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