chon·dri·o·some  (kŏn'drē-ə-sōm')  n. See mitochondrion. |
| mi·to·chon·dri·on (mī'tə-kŏn'drē-ən) n. pl. mi·to·chon·dri·a (-drē-ə) A spherical or elongated organelle in the cytoplasm of nearly all eukaryotic cells, containing genetic material and many enzymes important for cell metabolism, including those responsible for the conversion of food to usable energy. Also called chondriosome. [New Latin : Greek mitos, warp thread + Greek khondrion, diminutive of khondros, grain, granule; see ghrendh- in Indo-European roots.] mi'to·chon'dri·al (-drē-əl) adj. |
