Diagram of Mitochondria
http://esg-www.mit.edu:8001/esgbio/cb/org/mito.gif
As you can see in the diagram, Mitochondria has two membranes, an inner and an outer membrane. The outer membrane is separated from the inner membrane by a liquid. The inner membrane then surrounds something known as the matrix.
The inner membrane has enzymes in it so that it is able to break down nutrients. Like the small intestine, it has a lot of folds in it, called cristae, so it is able to break down more nutrients to turn into ATP. The process of turning these nutrients into ATP is known as respiration. Some of the respiration reactions happen in the matrix and some happen on the outside of the inner membrane which is covered in enzymes. Although the small intestine is used to break down a lot of the sugars into monosaccharides without the use of oxygen, Mitochondria is the only thing able to convert those sugars into ATP with oxygen. When using oxygen to break down monosaccharides, the efficiency of energy harnassed is multiplied to the 18.
Lastly inside the inner membrane of Mitochondria is mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic, or mtDNA, which has the information to direct the protein synthesis.
By: Charlie French
You can e-mail me at cfrench25@hotmail.com
