The word "vacuole" is spelled with a "c" and not a "k" because it comes from the Latin word "vacuus" meaning empty. English borrowed the word from French, where the "c" spelling is used. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /ˈvækjuːl/ with the stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is pronounced as "vak" with the "a" sound like in "cat", while the second syllable is pronounced "juul" with a long "u" and a silent "e".
A vacuole is a subcellular organelle found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. It is a membrane-bound structure that plays various important roles in maintaining the overall structure and functioning of the cell. Vacuoles are typically larger in plant cells compared to animal cells.
The primary function of vacuoles is to store and regulate various substances within the cell. They can store water, waste products, nutrients, ions, and other essential compounds required for cell metabolism. In plant cells, vacuoles are responsible for maintaining turgor pressure, which provides support to the cell and plant structure.
Vacuoles also aid in the removal of unwanted materials from the cell by acting as a temporary storage site. They can sequester and isolate harmful substances, preventing them from damaging vital cell components.
Additionally, vacuoles contribute to the maintenance of intracellular pH and osmotic balance, helping regulate the concentration of solutes within the cell.
Vacuoles can also function in the enzymatic breakdown of macromolecules and the recycling of cellular components through autophagy.
In summary, vacuoles are dynamic and versatile organelles that contribute to cellular homeostasis, storage, waste management, and overall cell function.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "vacuole" has its roots in Latin. It comes from the Latin word "vacuus", which means "empty" or "vacant". The ending "-ole" is a diminutive suffix, indicating a small or lesser version of something. So, "vacuole" can be translated to "small empty space" or "small empty cavity". It is an appropriate term as vacuoles are small membrane-bound compartments found within cells that often contain fluid or other substances.