Skeletal muscle mitochondrial health and spinal cord injury

Figure 2 The electron transport chain is located on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Electrons (e^-) enter through complex I or II and are transferred to complex III by coenzyme Q (Q). Electrons then move between complex III and IV by cytochrome c (c). Electrons can leak from the chain and react with oxygen to create superoxide (O₂^-). The movement of electrons is coupled to the pumping of protons (H⁺) from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space (IMS). This gradient is then used by ATP synthase, or complex V, to generate ATP.