Vacuole
Vacuole
Vacuole (/ˈvækjuːoʊl/; from Latin vacuus, meaning "empty") is a membrane-bound organelle which is present in all plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal and bacterial cells.
Etymology
The term "vacuole" comes from the Latin word vacuus, which means "empty". This is in reference to the space within the vacuole, which is often filled with fluid, known as cell sap.
Function
Vacuoles are essentially enclosed compartments which are filled with water containing inorganic and organic molecules including enzymes in solution, though in certain cases they may contain solids which have been engulfed. They have a variety of functions depending on the cell type. In general, the functions of the vacuole include:
- Isolating materials that might be harmful or a threat to the cell
- Containing waste products
- Maintaining internal hydrostatic pressure or turgor within the cell
- Maintaining an acidic internal pH
- Containing small molecules
- Exporting unwanted substances from the cell
- Allows plants to support structures such as leaves and flowers due to the pressure of the central vacuole
Related Terms
- Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms.
- Organelle: A specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function.
- Cell membrane: The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
- Cytoplasm: The material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.
- Cell sap: The liquid found in the central vacuole of a plant cell.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vacuole
- Wikipedia's article - Vacuole
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