Plural of crista; ridge-like structures or projections, especially the folds inside mitochondria that increase surface area for energy production.
From Latin 'crista' meaning crest or ridge. The term was adopted into anatomical terminology to describe similar structures in organisms. The plural form maintains the Latin grammatical convention.
These tiny folds inside your cells' power plants (mitochondria) are like accordion pleats—they triple the surface area available for making energy, which is why you can run around instead of just sitting still like a plant.
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