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Cellular Basics

Structures 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.