Metabolic Pathways of Pyruvate

During cellular respiration, glucose undergoes various metabolic pathways to generate ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell. One key stage in this process is glycolysis, which occurs in the cytoplasm and converts glucose into pyruvate while generating NADH and ATP. Pyruvate then enters the mitochondria for further processing. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle. However, under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate can undergo fermentation to regenerate NAD⁺.

The metabolic fate of pyruvate can vary significantly depending on the cellular environment and the presence of oxygen. The following options depict different pathways that pyruvate can take. Which of the following statements is true regarding the primary metabolic pathways that pyruvate can take following glycolysis?