The conversion of glycogen to glucose, which occurs in the liver and is stimulated by glucagons from the pancreas and adrenaline from the adrenal medulla.

These hormones activate an enzyme that phosphorylates glucose molecules in the glycogen chain to form glucose 1-phosphate, which is converted to glucose 6-phosphate. This then converted to glucose by a phosphatase enzyme.

In skeletal muscle glycogen is degraded to glucose 6-phosphate, which is then converted into pyruvate and used in ATP production during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.

Pyruvate can also be converted, in the liver, to glucose; thus muscle glycogen is indirectly a source of blood glucose.