VacuolesBy Hannah Rogers, Emily Urbanovitch, and Elizabeth Wood

Central Vacuole: Structure• The prominent organelle

in older plant cells

• Largest organelle in the cell surrounded by membrane

• Solution inside (cell sap) is the plant cell’s main repository of inorganic ions

Central Vacuole: Function

• Storage• Breakdown of

waste products• Hydrolysis of

macromolecules• Maintain pressure

for support of growing cells

Other Information:

• Enable plants to grow with minimal investment in new cytoplasm

• Develops from the combination of smaller vacuoles

Contractile Vacuole: Structure

• Enveloped in membrane

• Video

Contractile Vacuole: Function

• Pump excess water out of the cell

• In plants:

• Some hold reserves of important organic compounds

• Protect against herbivores

• Contain pigments which attract pollenating insects to petals

Other Information:

• Important in maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium

• Found in unicellular organisms

Food Vacuole: Structure• Enveloped in

membrane• Formed by

phagocytosis

Food Vacuole: Function

• Digestive function

Which vacuole is involved in the breakdown of waste products?

Food Vacuole

Central Vacuole

Contractile Vacuole

Which vacuole is enveloped in the membrane?

Food Vacuole

Central Vacuole

Contractile Vacuole

Which vacuole protects against herbivores?

Food Vacuole

Central Vacuole

Contractile Vacuole

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