Mitochondrion

In cell biology, a mitochondrion (from Greek mitos thread + khondrion granule) is an organelle found in most

Related Topics:
Cell biology - Greek - Organelle

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eukaryotic cells, including those of plants, animals, fungi, and protists. A few cells, such as the trypanosome protozoan, have a single large mitochondrion, but usually a cell has hundreds or thousands of mitochondria. The exact number of mitochondria depends on the cell's level of metabolic activity: more activity means more mitochondria. Mitochondria can occupy up to 25% of the cell's cytosol.

Related Topics:
Eukaryotic - Cells - Plant - Animal - Fungi - Protist - Trypanosome - Protozoa - Cytosol

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Mitochondria are sometimes described as "cellular power plants", because their primary function is to convert organic materials into energy in the form of ATP.

Related Topics:
Cellular - Power plant - Energy - ATP

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