The term for a series of chemical reactions that occur in a sequence is called a metabolic pathway. These pathways involve a chain of enzymatic reactions where the product of one reaction serves as the substrate for the next. Metabolic pathways can be categorized into catabolic (breaking down molecules) and anabolic (building up molecules) pathways. Understanding metabolic pathways is essential in biochemistry and physiology, as they are fundamental to cellular function and energy production.