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mitochondrion
mitochondrion definition - medical
mi·to·chon·dri·on (mīˌtə-kŏnˈdrē-ən)
noun pl. mi·to·chon·dri·a (-drē-ə) A spherical or elongated organelle in the cytoplasm of nearly all eukaryotic cells, containing genetic material and many enzymes important for cell metabolism, including those responsible for the conversion of food to usable energy. It consists of two membranes: an outer smooth membrane and an inner membrane arranged to form cristae.
Related Forms:
- miˌto·chonˈdri·al (-drē-əl) adjective
mitochondrion
cutaway view
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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