Final answer:
The mitochondrion is the organelle responsible for cellular respiration, converting nutrients into ATP, the cell's main energy source, and producing carbon dioxide as a waste product.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organelle that functions in cellular respiration is the mitochondrion (plural mitochondria). Mitochondria are referred to as the powerhouse or energy factories of both plant and animal cells. They have an outer and inner lipid bilayer membrane, where the inner membrane contains folds called cristae. The area enclosed by these folds is known as the mitochondrial matrix. The cristae and the matrix play distinct roles in cellular respiration, which is the process of converting energy from nutrients such as glucose into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell's primary energy-carrying molecule. This process requires oxygen and emits carbon dioxide as a waste product, which is expelled from the body when we exhale.