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How does a connecting rod transfer piston movement to the crankshaft?

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Labeled cross-sectional diagram of a V-type gasoline engine for an automobile, showing internal components such as pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, intake and exhaust valves, connecting rods, spark plugs, and intake manifold. — gasoline engine Cross section of a V-type engine.

The connecting rod serves as the vital link in a slider-crank mechanism, which is designed to convert the reciprocating (straight-line) motion of a piston into the rotary motion of a crankshaft.1

The process functions through the following mechanical arrangement:

Attachment: The connecting rod is attached to the piston at its upper end via a wristpin bearing and to the crankshaft at its lower end via a crankpin bearing. These bearings allow the components to rotate freely relative to one another.1
Motion Conversion: As the explosion of the air-fuel mixture pushes the piston through the cylinder, the connecting rod transmits this force to the crankshaft's throw (an offset portion of the shaft).12
Rotation: Because the crankpin follows a circular path, the linear force exerted by the piston is translated into torque, causing the crankshaft to rotate.12

This configuration allows the engine to harness the energy produced by combustion to drive the rotational movement necessary for vehicle propulsion.2