What is the name of the animal storage carbohydrate located in the liver and muscle tissues?

The storage carbohydrate found in animal tissues, specifically in the liver and muscles, is glycogen. Glycogen serves as a crucial energy reserve for animals, allowing them to efficiently store glucose that can be mobilized when needed, especially during periods of fasting or intense exercise. It is a polysaccharide made up of long chains of glucose molecules and is highly branched, which enables rapid release of glucose when energy is required.

In contrast, glucose is a simple sugar and is not a storage form itself but rather serves as a primary energy source for cells. Starch is the storage carbohydrate found in plants, composed of long chains of glucose molecules, and is not present in animal cells. Cellulose, also found in plants, is a structural carbohydrate that provides rigidity to plant cell walls and does not serve as an energy storage molecule in animals. Understanding the role of glycogen in energy metabolism highlights its importance as a critical resource for sustaining cellular activities.