A vacuole is a membrane-bound cell organelle.Plant cells have large permanent vacuoles. Animal cells have vacuoles but they are small and temporary. The Vacuole is surrounded by a selectively permeable membrane called the tonoplast.Small molecules such as sugars or pigments in beetroot can be stored in the vacuole.Vacuoles support the plant by maintaining the turgor pressure inside the cell.When the vacuole is filled with water, it pushes the contents of the cell against the cell wall. This keeps the cell rigid and supports the plant.
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Specification: AQA Biology (7401), AS-level, 3.2.1.1 Structure of eukaryotic cells. Topic: Cell Structure.
Key terms in this lesson
- turgor pressure
- The pressure exerted by the contents of a plant cell against the cell wall as water enters by osmosis, making the cell rigid.
More in Cell Structure
- Golgi Apparatus
- Lysosomes
- Ribosomes
- Cell Wall
- Cell Structure and Function
- Cell Specialisation
- Tissues
- Organs
All 26 lessons in Cell Structure · All AQA AS-level Biology topics