mitochondria

American  

[mahy-tuh-kon-dree-uh] / ˌmaɪ təˈkɒn dri ə /

plural noun

Cell Biology.

singular

mitochondrion

1. organelles that are found in the cytoplasm of cells and that function in energy production.

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Other Word Forms

• mitochondrial adjective

Etymology

Origin of mitochondria

First recorded in 1900–05; from German Mitochondrion (singular), equivalent to Greek míto(s) “thread” + chóndr(os) “grain, seed, cartilage” + -ia plural of diminutive suffix -ion

Example Sentences

Scott has his eye on mitochondrial transplantation, in which healthy mitochondria, the cell’s minute, energy-producing structures, are transferred into cells to—theoretically—restore their ability to generate power and survive.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

This included reduced loss of synapses and less structural and functional damage to mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

These include activating immune cells, increasing oxidative stress, disrupting the blood-brain barrier, interfering with mitochondria, and damaging neurons.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

Using this approach, the team identified 33 types of CoA conjugates across whole cells and 23 types specifically within mitochondria.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

The second and much smaller genome is of the DNA in mitochondria; it was mapped, to little public notice, in 1981.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann