: any of the inwardly projecting folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin, crest — more at crest
First Known Use
1959, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
crista
noun
cris·ta ˈkris-tə
plural cristae -ˌtē, -ˌtī
1
: one of the areas of specialized sensory epithelium in the ampullae of the semicircular canals of the ear serving as end organs for the vestibular sense
called alsocrista ampullaris
2
: a membranous spiral fold running the length of the body of certain spirochetes
3
: an elevation of the surface of a bone for the attachment of a muscle or tendon
4
: any of the inwardly projecting folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion