# Lipolysis --- **Lipolysis** is the [[catabolism|catabolysis]] of [[triglycerides]], both those found in [[adipose tissue|adipose tissue]] and in [[lipoprotein|lipoprotiens]] in the blood stream. The [[lipase]] that is used for them initially is slightly different (depending on...something?), but after that the processes are functionally identical. First the [[triglycerides]] is split into its [[glycerol]] head and [[fatty acids|fatty acid]] tails. Then the fatty acids are sent to the bloodstream where they can undergo [[β-oxidation]]; the glycerol goes to the [[liver]] where it can be converted to [[pyruvate]]. A significant **byproduct of lipolysis** is the formation of [[ketone bodies]] during [[β-oxidation]] of fatty acids. ```mermaid graph TD a([triglyceride]) --> b([glycerol]) & c([fatty acids]) b -- to liver --> d([pyruvate]) d --> e([acetyl CoA]) d <--> f([glucose]) c -- to mitochondria --> g([acetyl CoA + energy]) ``` ___