# Lipolysis
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**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])
```
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