(mīt‵ō-kŏn'drē-ŏn )

Plural: mitochondria

[Gr. mitos, thread, + chondros, cartilage]

A cell organelle of rod or oval shape 0.5 µm in diameter. Mitochondria can be seen by using phase-contrast or electron microscopy. They contain the enzymes for the aerobic stages of cell respiration and thus are the sites of most ATP synthesis.

SEE: cell; organelle for illus.