The area enclosed by the highly folded inner mitochondrial membrane is the:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The highly folded inner mitochondrial membrane forms cristae that increase the surface area available for oxidative phosphorylation by the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis. The area enclosed by the cristae is called the matrix, which contains mitochondrial DNA, ribosomes, enzymes, and other molecules necessary for oxidative metabolism within the mitochondria. The cytoplasm and nucleus are outside of the mitochondria and not enclosed by the inner membrane, so choices A, B, and D are incorrect. The outer membrane is a smooth membrane that surrounds the mitochondria and separates it from the cytoplasm, but it does not contribute to the highly folded structure of the cristae and the enclosed matrix, so choice C is also incorrect.

The Area Enclosed by the Highly Folded Inner Mitochondrial Membrane