Page 56 - Medicinal Plants_PharmD general

Mitochondria

Mitochondria (Figure 6) are small organelles which occur suspended
through the cytoplasm. They are either spherical or rod-shaped and
measure from about 0.5 m to over 10 m in length. They are thus visible
with the light microscope but with little detail of their structure. They are
bounded by two membranes. The outer membrane covers the organelle and
contains it like a skin. The inner membrane folds over many times and
creates layered structures called cristae. The fluid contained in the
mitochondria is called the matrix (Figure 8).

The mitochondria are the "power houses" of the cells and together
with the chloroplasts they make available the energy for plant and animal
life through cellular respiration.

Figure 8. Mitochondrion

-56-