Glycogen metabolism involves two important processes. We have the synthesis of glycogen from glucose molecules glycogenesis and we also have the breakdown of glycogen into glucose glycogen degradation. Now, these two processes never take place at the same exact moment in time inside our cells. In fact, the cells of our body have a mechanism in place that helps regulate these processes in a reciprocal fashion. And what that basically means is when one process is on, the other process must be off. For instance, if our body for our cells are breaking down glycogen to glucose the process of glycogen synthesis will be turned off.