crista

membrane

Also known as: cristae

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "crista" (plural: cristae) refers to an inwardly projecting fold of the inner membrane within a mitochondrion. These folds significantly increase the surface area of the inner membrane. Mitochondria are often called the "powerhouses" of the cell, responsible for generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell's energy currency, through the oxidation of metabolic products. The inner mitochondrial membrane, with its cristae, plays a crucial role in this energy production by housing enzymatic proteins involved in electron transport and proton pumping, which ultimately drives ATP synthesis.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

algae
The algal cell
The infoldings, called cristae, have three morphologies: (1) flattened or sheetlike, (2) fingerlike or tubular, and (3) paddlelike. The mitochondria of land plants and animals, by comparison, generally have flattened cristae.
Read More
The infoldings, called cristae, have three morphologies: (1) flattened or sheetlike, (2) fingerlike or tubular, and (3) paddlelike. The mitochondria of land plants and animals, by comparison, generally have flattened cristae.
Read More

metabolism
ATP synthesis in mitochondria
…highly folded inner membrane (crista), which does not even allow the passage of small ions and so maintains a closed space within the cell. The electron-transferring molecules of the respiratory chain and the enzymes responsible for ATP synthesis are located in and on this inner membrane, while the space…
Read More
…highly folded inner membrane (crista), which does not even allow the passage of small ions and so maintains a closed space within the cell. The electron-transferring molecules of the respiratory chain and the enzymes responsible for ATP synthesis are located in and on this inner membrane, while the space…
Read More

cell
Mitochondrial and chloroplastic structure
…elaborately folded into structures called cristae that dramatically increase the surface area of the membrane. In contrast, the inner membrane of chloroplasts is relatively smooth. However, within this membrane is yet another series of folded membranes that form a set of flattened, disklike sacs called thylakoids. The space enclosed by…
Read More
…elaborately folded into structures called cristae that dramatically increase the surface area of the membrane. In contrast, the inner membrane of chloroplasts is relatively smooth. However, within this membrane is yet another series of folded membranes that form a set of flattened, disklike sacs called thylakoids. The space enclosed by…
Read More