Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsQuick FactsWhat Do Mitochondria Do?Mitochondrial Disease
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
What Do Mitochondria Do?
Mitochondrial Disease
Mitochondriaare parts of a human cell known as the “energy factories.“ Most human cells, animal cells, and plant cells contain hundreds or even thousands of mitochondria. Some cells, such as muscle cells, contain more mitochondria than those that are less active, like skin cells.
This article describes the structure and function of mitochondria and explains how they affect your body and health.
Mitochondria Quick Facts
All living things are composed of cells. Each cell contains structural components called organelles (almost like mini organs) with specific functions. Mitochondria are a type of organelle.
Location in Body
Mitochondria are distributed throughout the body. Every tissue and organ in the body is composed of cells, and most cells have many mitochondria. Some cell types have more mitochondria than others due to their energy needs.
Basic Structure
The main function that occurs inside mitochondria is a chemical reaction that creates ATP, a molecule that the body uses for energy. The mitochondria also have some other roles that are not as well understood as ATP production.
A mitochondrial function that has recently received attention in the context of health is that of cell regeneration, which involves cell death and renewal.
Energy Production
Energy production is the best-recognized and comprehensively studied aspect of mitochondrial function. The structures within this organelle are able to generate ATP through a multistep chemical process.
During this chemical reaction, ATP is produced from glucose (sugar) and oxygen, and carbon dioxide waste is produced. Two major processes of this production (the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation) take place in the mitochondria.
The ATP that is produced can be stored in the cell. A healthy cell requires efficient production of ATP to meet its energy needs.
Cell Death
Apoptosisis cell degeneration that is controlled. Cell degeneration can occur as part of growth and development or as a natural part of aging. Additionally, cell degeneration can occur as a result of damage or disease.
The mitochondria play a role in programmed cell degeneration and damage-induced degeneration. The mitochondria release enzymes (substances that mediate chemical reactions) that lead to the death of the cell.
Other Functions
The mitochondria are involved in several other functions and can play a role in the initial steps, or may be involved in one or more subsequent steps of the physiological process.
Functions that involve mitochondria include:
What Happens When Mitochondria Doesn’t Function Like It Should?
Examples of mitochondrial diseasesinclude:
Mitochondrial diseases are diverse, and are estimated to affect 1 in 5,000 live births.
Some mitochondrial diseases are inherited. The hereditary pattern of mitochondrial disease is very complicated.
Hereditary mitochondrial diseases can be passed down due to defects in thenuclear DNA(this is the DNA that contains most of the genetic material of the body), and some are passed down through mitochondrial DNA.One of the features of mitochondrial DNA is that it is inherited maternally, which means that it is inherited specifically from the female genetic parent.
These diseases can cause mitochondrial damage, and damage to the mitochondria can worsen the disease.
Mitochondrial Health
While no specific medication or dietary component can promote mitochondria’s proliferation in your body, maintaining health can prevent damage—aiding in proper survival and optimal regeneration of healthy cells and mitochondria.
Summary
The mitochondria are abundant throughout the body. These structures are a type of organelle, and multiple mitochondria are found within each cell in humans, animals, and plants.
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8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Protasoni M, Zeviani M.Mitochondrial structure and bioenergetics in normal and disease conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(2):586. doi:10.3390/ijms22020586Zangari J, Petrelli F, Maillot B, Martinou JC.The multifaceted pyruvate metabolism: role of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1068. doi:10.3390/biom10071068Palmer CS, Anderson AJ, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial protein import dysfunction: mitochondrial disease, neurodegenerative disease and cancer.FEBS Lett.2021;595(8):1107-1131. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14022Green DR.The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis: part 1: MOMP and beyond.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2022;14(5):a041038. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a041038Russell OM, Gorman GS, Lightowlers RN, Turnbull DM.Mitochondrial diseases: hope for the future.Cell.2020;181(1):168-188. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.051National Institute of Health.Mitochondrial myopathies.Baker MJ, Crameri JJ, Thorburn DR, Frazier AE, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial biology and dysfunction in secondary mitochondrial disease.Open Biol.2022;12(12):220274. doi:10.1098/rsob.220274Kmita H, Pinna G, Lushchak VI.Potential oxidative stress related targets of mitochondria-focused therapy of PTSD.Front Physiol.2023;14:1266575. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1266575
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Protasoni M, Zeviani M.Mitochondrial structure and bioenergetics in normal and disease conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(2):586. doi:10.3390/ijms22020586Zangari J, Petrelli F, Maillot B, Martinou JC.The multifaceted pyruvate metabolism: role of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1068. doi:10.3390/biom10071068Palmer CS, Anderson AJ, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial protein import dysfunction: mitochondrial disease, neurodegenerative disease and cancer.FEBS Lett.2021;595(8):1107-1131. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14022Green DR.The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis: part 1: MOMP and beyond.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2022;14(5):a041038. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a041038Russell OM, Gorman GS, Lightowlers RN, Turnbull DM.Mitochondrial diseases: hope for the future.Cell.2020;181(1):168-188. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.051National Institute of Health.Mitochondrial myopathies.Baker MJ, Crameri JJ, Thorburn DR, Frazier AE, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial biology and dysfunction in secondary mitochondrial disease.Open Biol.2022;12(12):220274. doi:10.1098/rsob.220274Kmita H, Pinna G, Lushchak VI.Potential oxidative stress related targets of mitochondria-focused therapy of PTSD.Front Physiol.2023;14:1266575. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1266575
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Protasoni M, Zeviani M.Mitochondrial structure and bioenergetics in normal and disease conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(2):586. doi:10.3390/ijms22020586Zangari J, Petrelli F, Maillot B, Martinou JC.The multifaceted pyruvate metabolism: role of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1068. doi:10.3390/biom10071068Palmer CS, Anderson AJ, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial protein import dysfunction: mitochondrial disease, neurodegenerative disease and cancer.FEBS Lett.2021;595(8):1107-1131. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14022Green DR.The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis: part 1: MOMP and beyond.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2022;14(5):a041038. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a041038Russell OM, Gorman GS, Lightowlers RN, Turnbull DM.Mitochondrial diseases: hope for the future.Cell.2020;181(1):168-188. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.051National Institute of Health.Mitochondrial myopathies.Baker MJ, Crameri JJ, Thorburn DR, Frazier AE, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial biology and dysfunction in secondary mitochondrial disease.Open Biol.2022;12(12):220274. doi:10.1098/rsob.220274Kmita H, Pinna G, Lushchak VI.Potential oxidative stress related targets of mitochondria-focused therapy of PTSD.Front Physiol.2023;14:1266575. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1266575
Protasoni M, Zeviani M.Mitochondrial structure and bioenergetics in normal and disease conditions.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(2):586. doi:10.3390/ijms22020586
Zangari J, Petrelli F, Maillot B, Martinou JC.The multifaceted pyruvate metabolism: role of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1068. doi:10.3390/biom10071068
Palmer CS, Anderson AJ, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial protein import dysfunction: mitochondrial disease, neurodegenerative disease and cancer.FEBS Lett.2021;595(8):1107-1131. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14022
Green DR.The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis: part 1: MOMP and beyond.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2022;14(5):a041038. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a041038
Russell OM, Gorman GS, Lightowlers RN, Turnbull DM.Mitochondrial diseases: hope for the future.Cell.2020;181(1):168-188. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.051
National Institute of Health.Mitochondrial myopathies.
Baker MJ, Crameri JJ, Thorburn DR, Frazier AE, Stojanovski D.Mitochondrial biology and dysfunction in secondary mitochondrial disease.Open Biol.2022;12(12):220274. doi:10.1098/rsob.220274
Kmita H, Pinna G, Lushchak VI.Potential oxidative stress related targets of mitochondria-focused therapy of PTSD.Front Physiol.2023;14:1266575. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1266575
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