- make products like hormones and lipids. - distributes those products throughout the cell and to places in the organism. - regulates and releases calcium ions and processes toxins
an organelle found in large numbers in most cells; It has a double membrane, the inner layer being folded inward to form layers (cristae)
The main job of mitochondria is to perform cellular respiration. This means it takes in nutrients from the cell, breaks it down, and turns it into energy. This energy is then in turn used by the cell to carry out various functions.