Final answer:
The blender is used to prepare a cell homogenate by breaking open the liver cells, which releases the mitochondria and other organelles, facilitating their further isolation and study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of using a blender in the preparation of liver mitochondrial enzymes is to prepare a cell homogenate; this means to break open the liver cells and release the organelles, including the mitochondria. This is the first step of a process known as cell fractionation, which allows researchers to separate and study the different components of the cell, such as organelles. The action of the blender disrupts the cellular structure, liberating the contents within the cells, including various organelles like mitochondria, which can then be isolated through subsequent steps such as differential centrifugation.
During differential centrifugation, the homogenized cell mixture is subjected to various levels of centrifugal force to separate components based on their mass. To further explore these subcellular structures, mitochondria can be re-suspended and prepared for various types of analysis, including microscopy. It's important to note that the blender itself does not distinguish between different organelles; rather, it indiscriminately breaks down cellular and extracellular structures.