Final answer:
Mitochondria are cellular organelles responsible for ATP production through cellular respiration, a multi-stage process that converts nutrients like glucose into energy, requiring oxygen and producing carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Mitochondria and Cellular Respiration
Mitochondria are known as the "powerhouses" or "energy factories" of a cell, crucial for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy-carrying molecule within the cell. The process of ATP production is called cellular respiration, which involves the breakdown of glucose and other nutrients. This happens through several stages:
- Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm, where glucose is split to form pyruvate.
- The pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria, where it enters the Krebs cycle.
- The energy from the Krebs cycle is transferred to an electron transport chain, where ATP is produced in large amounts.
This entire process requires oxygen and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product, which is exhaled. The number of mitochondria within a cell correlates with the cell's energy demands