Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

mitochondrial genome
See 
genome, mito-
chondrial.
mitochondrial inheritance
See 
inheritance,
mitochondrial.
mitochondrial myopathy
A form of mitochon-
drial disease that leads to progressive muscle weak-
ness. More than 25 types of enzyme abnormalities
have been defined that fall into this category. They
result in a disease of cell metabolism and are
defined via a biopsy of muscle tissue that shows
ragged red fibers under microscopic examination.
See also 
mitochondrial disease.
mitochondrion
Singular of mitochondria.
mitosis
The ordinary division of a body cell (a
somatic cell) to form two daughter cells, each with
the same chromosome complement as the parent
cell.
mitotic
Pertaining to mitosis.
mitotic nondisjunction
The failure in mitosis
for the two members of a chromosome pair to sep-
arate (to disjoin) normally so that both chromo-
somes go to one daughter cell while none go to the
other daughter cell. See also 
mitosis.
mitral insufficiency
A malfunction of the mitral
valve that permits the backflow of blood (regurgita-
tion) from the left ventricle into the left atrium. Most
mitral insufficiency is mild and requires no treat-
ment. When severe, however, treatment with med-
ications and sometimes surgery is necessary.
mitral prolapse
See 
mitral valve prolapse.
mitral regurgitation
Backflow of blood from
the left ventricle to the left atrium due to mitral valve
insufficiency.
mitral valve
A valve in the heart that is situated
between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The
mitral valve permits blood to flow from the left
atrium into the left ventricle, but not in the reverse
direction. The mitral valve has two flaps (cusps). It
is so named because it looks like a bishop’s miter
(headdress). Also known as bicuspid valve.