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Mitochondria - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Ruth Brindle

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What are mitochondria?

In GCSE biology, mitochondria (singular mitochondrion) are organelles found in the cytoplasm of plant and animal cells. They are responsible for the release of energy from glucose during aerobic respiration.

Diagram of a typical animal cell, highlighting the nucleus, ribosomes, cell membrane, mitochondria, and cytoplasm with labels.
Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration in plant and animal cells

The number of mitochondria present in a cell will differ depending on cell function. For example, sperm cells require energy for movement, and muscle cells require energy for contraction, so these cell types contain many mitochondria.

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Ruth Brindle

Reviewer: Ruth Brindle

Expertise: Biology Content Creator

Ruth graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in Biology and went on to teach Science in London whilst also completing an MA in innovation in Education. With 10 years of teaching experience across the 3 key science disciplines, Ruth decided to set up a tutoring business to support students in her local area. Ruth has worked with several exam boards and loves to use her experience to produce educational materials which make the mark schemes accessible to all students.

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