Page 22 - The Cell and Its Components

plant of the cell.

Respiration
Mitochondria produce energy through the process of
cellular respiration. Respiration is another word for
breathing. The mitochondria take food molecules in the
form of carbohydrates and combine them with oxygen to
produce the ATP. They use proteins called enzymes to
produce the correct chemical reaction.

Mitochondrion Structure
Mitochondria have a distinct structure that helps them to
generate energy.

 Outer membrane - The outside is protected by an
outer membrane that is smooth and varies in
shape from a round blob to a long rod.
 Inner membrane - Unlike other organelles in the
cell, mitochondria also have an inner membrane.
The inner membrane is wrinkled with lots of folds
and performs a number of functions to help make
energy.
 Cristae - The folds on the inner membrane are
called cristae. Having all these folds helps to
increase the surface area of the inner membrane.
 Matrix - The matrix is the space inside the inner
membrane. Most of the proteins of the
mitochondria are in the matrix. The matrix also
holds ribosomes and DNA that is unique to the
mitochondria.