Vacuoles in Cells

• Vacuoles


  Sacks of fluid enclosed by a membrane
• Vacuoles in animal cells

  • Temporary structures
• Vacuoles in plant cells

  • Large permanent structures
• Tonoplast


  Membrane surrounding the plant cell vacuole
• Cell sap


  Fluid contained in the plant cell vacuole, can contain dissolved sugars, mineral salts, amino acids, and other molecules
• Molecules in cell sap


  • Poisonous chemicals to deter herbivores
  • Colored pigments to attract pollinators
  • Waste chemicals produced by the plant cell
• Cell sap has low water potential


  Water moves into the plant cell by osmosis and enters the vacuole
• Turgidity


  Hydrostatic pressure acting outwards, causing the cytoplasm to press against the cell wall, supporting the plant
• Phagocytosis


  1. Pathogen engulfed by white blood cell

  2. Pathogen contained in phagocytic vacuole

  3. Lysosomes fuse with phagocytic vacuole

  4. Lysosomal enzymes destroy pathogen
• Vacuoles play a role in the removal of waste materials in animal cells