vesicle

/'vesikl/

Thân thiện

A scientist examines a vesicle under a microscope.

Definition

Noun: 1. A small sac or bladder-like structure, especially one containing fluid: In anatomy and biology, a vesicle is a small, membrane-bound sac within a cell or organism, typically used for storage or transport of substances. 2. A small blister or fluid-filled elevation on the skin: In medicine and dermatology, a vesicle is a small, circumscribed elevation of the skin containing serous fluid. 3. A small cavity in a rock, formed by the expansion of gas: In geology, a vesicle is a small, rounded cavity within a volcanic rock, formed by the expansion of a gas bubble during solidification.

Examples of Usage

• The cell uses a vesicle to transport proteins from the Golgi apparatus to the cell membrane.
• The rash was characterized by numerous small, clear vesicles.
• The basaltic lava rock is highly vesicular, containing many gas vesicles.

Advanced Usage

• "To form a vesicle": The process by which a membrane pinches off to create a small sac.
  • During endocytosis, the cell membrane invaginates to form a vesicle around the external material.
• "Vesicular transport": The cellular process of moving materials within vesicles.
  • Intracellular cargo is moved via vesicular transport along the cytoskeleton.

Variants and Related Words

• Vesicular (adj): Of, relating to, or characterized by vesicles; having the form or structure of a vesicle.
  • The doctor noted the vesicular nature of the rash.
  • Pumice is a vesicular volcanic rock.
• Vesiculate (v): To form or become vesicular; to make into vesicles.
  • The heat caused the material to vesiculate.

Synonyms

• Blister: Specifically for a skin vesicle.
• Sac: A more general term for a pouch or bag-like structure.
• Cyst: A closed sac that may contain fluid, but is typically larger or pathological.
• Bulla: A large vesicle (in dermatology).

Related Phrases

• Seminal vesicle: (Anatomy) One of a pair of glandular sacs that secrete a component of semen.
  • The seminal vesicles contribute fructose to the seminal fluid.
• Synaptic vesicle: (Neurobiology) A small vesicle in the presynaptic neuron that contains neurotransmitters.
  • Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a small anatomically normal sac or bladderlike structure (especially one containing fluid)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cyst