Okuzeka
Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Cells, Tissues and Body Organization

Mitochondrion

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˌmaɪtəˈkɑːndriən/nounCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, mitochondrion means: A small structure inside the cell that uses oxygen to produce most of the cell's energy in the form of ATP. Cells that need a lot of energy, like muscle cells, have many of them.

In Turkish: mitokondri

How it is used

Almost always used in the plural: mitochondria. Introductory classes call it the powerhouse of the cell. The Krebs cycle and most of cellular respiration take place there, and mitochondria have their own DNA.

Example sentences

  1. Heart muscle cells are packed with mitochondria.

  2. Each mitochondrion has an inner membrane folded into cristae.

Common collocations

  • mitochondrial DNA
  • inner mitochondrial membrane
  • powerhouse of the cell
  • cellThe smallest living unit of the body. Each cell has a membrane and cytoplasm, most also have a nucleus, and groups of similar cells form tissues.
  • metabolismAll the chemical reactions in the body's cells that break down food for energy and build new molecules. It includes catabolism (breaking down) and anabolism (building up).
  • respirationThe process of taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide. It covers breathing (ventilation), gas exchange in the lungs and tissues, and the use of oxygen inside cells (cellular respiration).
  • nucleusThe control center of a cell, surrounded by its own membrane. It contains the DNA, which carries the instructions for making proteins and for cell division.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Cells, Tissues and Body Organization

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.