Glycolysis, also known as the Embden-Meyerhoff pathway, is a metabolic process occurring in the cytoplasm that converts glucose into two pyruvate molecules, utilizing ATP without the need for oxygen. The pathway involves ten steps facilitated by specific enzymes, resulting in the net production of 2 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 pyruvate, with potential conversion to lactate if oxidization is impaired. Each step, including phosphorylation, isomerization, and substrate-level phosphorylation, is critical for energy production and metabolic regulation.