CONDENSING VACUOLE Meaning and
Definition
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A condensing vacuole is a specialized structure found in certain unicellular organisms, particularly protists, that plays a fundamental role in osmoregulation. It is a smaller, contractile vacuole that functions by accumulating and expelling excess water from the cell.
The condensing vacuole is responsible for maintaining the proper balance of water and solutes within the cell by removing excess water that enters through osmosis. This is particularly important in organisms that live in aquatic environments, where they are constantly exposed to the surrounding water's fluctuations in osmotic pressure.
The vacuole achieves its role through a process called contractility. It accumulates water from the cytoplasm through the influx of fluid-filled vesicles and endocytosis. Once filled, the vacuole contracts, expelling the excess water out of the cell through the plasma membrane. This contraction is facilitated by the specialized proteins and ion channels present in the vacuolar membrane.
The condensing vacuole also maintains the appropriate concentration of solutes within the cell by actively pumping out excess ions, such as sodium and chloride, along with the expelled water. This ensures that the cell maintains a suitable internal environment necessary for its overall function and survival.
In summary, a condensing vacuole is a small, contractile organelle found in certain unicellular organisms, primarily protists, that helps regulate osmotic balance, removes excess water, and maintains the proper concentration of solutes within the cell.
Common Misspellings for CONDENSING VACUOLE
- xondensing vacuole
- vondensing vacuole
- fondensing vacuole
- dondensing vacuole
- cindensing vacuole
- ckndensing vacuole
- clndensing vacuole
- cpndensing vacuole
- c0ndensing vacuole
- c9ndensing vacuole
- cobdensing vacuole
- comdensing vacuole
- cojdensing vacuole
- cohdensing vacuole
- consensing vacuole
- conxensing vacuole
- concensing vacuole
- confensing vacuole
- conrensing vacuole
- coneensing vacuole
Etymology of CONDENSING VACUOLE
The term "condensing vacuole" is composed of two words: "condensing" and "vacuole".
The word "condensing" comes from the Latin word "condensare", which means "to make dense or compact". In biology, it refers to the process of making a substance or structure more concentrated or compact.
The word "vacuole" has its roots in the Latin word "vacuus", which means "empty" or "void". In biology, a vacuole refers to a membrane-bound organelle, typically found in plant and fungal cells, that contains fluid and serves various functions, including waste storage, maintaining internal pressure, and even digestion.
Therefore, the term "condensing vacuole" describes a specialized organelle present in certain organisms, particularly in single-celled organisms such as protozoa.
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