Editing Crista (section)

{{Short description|Fold in the inner membrane of a mitochondrion}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Cell biology|mitochondrion=yes|background color=#bd0926}}
A '''crista''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|ɪ|s|t|ə}}; {{plural form}}: '''cristae''') is a fold in the [[inner mitochondrial membrane|inner membrane]] of a [[mitochondrion]]. The name is from the Latin for ''crest'' or ''plume'', and it gives the inner membrane its characteristic wrinkled shape, providing a large amount of [[surface area]] for [[chemical reaction]]s to occur on. This aids [[cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration|aerobic cellular respiration]], because the mitochondrion requires [[oxygen]]. Cristae are studded with [[protein]]s, including [[ATP synthase]] and a variety of [[cytochrome]]s.