Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell as they are responsible for cell respiration (the process which produces energy). Their most prominent function is to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells.
Mitochondria are structures within cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use. Each cell contains hundreds or even thousands of mitochondria. They are located in the fluid that surrounds the nucleus, which is called the cytoplasm.
It is important to note that ‘mitochondria’ is plural, with the singular form being ‘mitochondrion’. They are organelles, which are specialized structures within a living cell. The muscle cells in the heart contain far more mitochondria than any other organ in the human body, with around 5,000 mitochondria in every cell. Keep in mind that the number of mitochondria in each cell reflects its energy requirement: the more energy an organ needs, the more mitochondria its cells will have.
Sperm cells also contain mitochondria in their tails, which create the energy needed for intensive processes like hyperactivation and motility. In sexual reproduction, mitochondria are typically inherited only from the mother as the mitochondria in sperm are usually destroyed by the egg cell after fertilization.