Small Vacuole
A vacuole is a fluid-filled space bounded by a membrane within a cell. Animal cells contain small vacuoles that form and disappear as needed, whereas mature plant cells contain a single large permanent vacuole filled with cell sap 1.
| Feature | Small vacuole (animal cell) | Large permanent vacuole (plant cell) |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small | Occupies much of the cell volume |
| Lifespan | Temporary | Permanent |
| Contents | Water, food particles, waste | Cell sap — sugars, salts and water |
| Main role | Storage and internal transport | Keeps the cell firm and supports the plant |
Why Plant Support Depends on It
The pressure of the water inside the large vacuole pushes outwards on the cytoplasm and cell wall, so the cell becomes turgid and helps hold the plant upright 1. If the cell loses water the vacuole shrinks, the cell goes flaccid and the plant wilts. In animal cells the small vacuoles have no such structural role, which is one reason animal cells keep an irregular shape.
animal cell plant cell
○ ○ small ┌───────────┐
○ ○ vacuoles │ ╭─────╮ │ one large
╭───╮ │ │ sap │ │ vacuole
╰───╯ │ ╰─────╯ │
└───────────┘Related
- Cell - Structural unit containing vacuoles.
- Cell Wall - Rigid layer that turgor pressure pushes against.
- Cytoplasm - Material surrounding the vacuole.
- Cell Membrane - Boundary across which water enters the cell.
- Osmosis - Water movement that fills the vacuole until the cell is turgid.
- Biology - Cambridge IGCSE life-science area.
Footnotes
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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for examination in 2026, 2027 and 2028 - Vacuoles in plant and animal cells (2.1.1), turgid, turgor pressure and flaccid cells (3.2). ↩ ↩2