Vacuoles

Definition

Vacuoles are membrane-bound sacs within the cytoplasm of a cell that function in several different ways including isolating materials that might be harmful or storing waste products.

Related terms

Lysosomes:

Organelles that contain digestive enzymes. They digest excess or worn-out organelles, food particles, and engulfed viruses or bacteria.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER):

A network within the cell that aids in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism; also involved with transporting proteins to Golgi apparatus.

Golgi Apparatus:

An organelle responsible for packaging proteins into vesicles prior to secretion; it acts like a post office, sorting and shipping proteins to their correct locations.