Glycogen is a highly branched polymer of glucose that serves as a readily mobilized form of energy storage. It is synthesized from glucose through glycogenesis and broken down through glycogenolysis to release glucose-1-phosphate. Glycogen is stored primarily in the liver and muscle cells. Glycogenesis involves the activation of glucose, initiation using glycogenin, elongation by adding glucose units via glycogen synthase, and branching. Glycogenolysis breaks down glycogen through phosphorylation by glycogen phosphorylase and the action of debranching enzyme and phosphoglucomutase. Deficiencies in the enzymes involved in glycogen metabolism can cause glycogen storage diseases.