A crista is a fold in the 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 reactions to occur on.

What is a cristae in biology?

Cristae are folds in the inner membrane that extend into the matrix, increasing the functional surface area of the inner membrane—the physical location of the electron transport chain protein complexes required for OXPHOS.

What is cristae and its function?

Cristae are folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane. ... The cristae increase the surface area of the inner membrane, allowing for faster production of ATP because there are more places to perform the process.