Mitochondria
inside an organism the amount of energy a cell uses is measured in molecules of
adenosine triphosphate
The process of creating cell energy is known as
cellular respiration.
The outer membrane
covers the organelle and contains it
If the cell feels it is not getting enough energy to survive, more mitochondria can be
created.
They are organelles that act like a digestive system that takes in nutrients, breaks them down, and
creates energy for the cell.
Sometimes they can even grow, move, and combine with other mitochondria,
depending on the cell's needs.
the mitochondria produce the ATP, and to do it ,the mitochondria use products of
glucose metabolism as fuel
Cellular respiration
is the process by which the chemical energy of "food" molecules is released and partially captured in the form of ATP.
The fluid inside of the mitochondria is called the
matrix.
Mitochondria have two
membranes
Many of the chemical reactions happen on the inner membrane of the
mitochondria
Most of the chemical reactions involved in cellular respiration happen in the
mitochondria
If the purpose of the cell is to transmit nerve impulses, there will be fewer mitochondria than in a
muscle cell that needs loads of energy.
Mitochondria are very small
organelles
The increased surface area allows the small organelle to do as much
work as possible
Mitochondria are known as the
powerhouses of the cell.
glucose metabolism
...
The inner membrane folds over many times (cristae)
That folding increases the surface area inside the organelle.
How are mitochondria used in cellular respiration?
The matrix is filled with water (H2O) and proteins (enzymes). Those proteins take food molecules and combine them with oxygen (O2). The mitochondria are the only place in the cell where oxygen can be combined with the food molecules. After the oxygen is added, the material can be digested. They are working organelles that keep the cell full of energy.
You might find cells with several thousand mitochondria.
The number depends on what the cell needs to do.
