The citric acid cycle, also called as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle or Krebs cycle (after its discoverer in the year of 1937), is used to oxidize the pyruvate making during the glycolytic breakdown of glucose into H2O and CO2. It also oxidizes acetyl CoA increasing from fatty acid degradation and amino acid degradation products. Additionally, the cycle gives precursors for various biosynthetic pathways.