crista

noun

cris·​ta ˈkri-stə 

plural cristae ˈkri-ˌstē 

-ˌstī

: any of the inwardly projecting folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion

Examples of crista in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Step three: the waves travel down the crista acustica, whose cells respond to the various frequencies and send that information to the insect’s nervous system. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2012

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 also crista 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