Cellular BasicsStructures Inside Cells |
What is a vacuole? |
A cell’s vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle that is primarily used for storage and contains water, enzymes, and other substances. Some vacuoles have a specific function within a cell—for example, a food vacuole stores food molecules—and in freshwater protists, contractile vacuoles maintain the cell’s water balance, pumping out excess water from the cell when necessary.