Lysosome
Definition
Lysosomes are organelles filled with enzymes that break down waste materials and cellular debris inside cells.
Analogy
Consider lysosomes as your body's recycling center. They take waste products and unwanted materials, break them down into their basic components so they can be reused again by your body.
Related terms
Endoplasmic Reticulum: A network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell, involved in protein and lipid synthesis.
Golgi Apparatus: A complex of vesicles and folded membranes within the cytoplasm, involved in secretion and intracellular transport.
Autophagy: The process by which cells recycle their own components to provide the necessary building blocks for maintaining cellular functions and adapting to changing conditions.
"Lysosome" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (1)
- A mutation causes the membrane of a lysosome to become leaky. Describe a result of this:
Resources
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