WordGarden.iovesicle
C2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈvɛzɪkəl/
Meanings
Noun
a small sac or fluid-filled cavity in the body or another organism
a small membrane-bound sac inside a cell that stores or transports substances
Beyond the definition
Imagine tiny bubbles moving inside your cells. They act like little delivery trucks, carrying important materials to keep the "city" of the cell running smoothly. You will hear this word most often in biology, where it means a small sac surrounded by a membrane. It can also mean a small, clear, fluid-filled blister on the skin, such as one caused by a minor burn, rubbing, or an infection. In simple terms, it usually refers to a tiny enclosed pocket that holds or carries something.
A vesicle is a small, fluid-filled sac or bubble-like structure found in various natural systems. While the word might sound technical, it describes a fundamental concept: a tiny, contained pocket of material within a larger environment.
In biology, vesicles are the workhorses of the cell. Enclosed by a lipid bilayer (a thin membrane), they function as transport containers that move proteins, nutrients, and waste. They bud off from one organelle and travel through the cell to deliver their cargo. Through a process called exocytosis, they can even fuse with the cell's outer membrane to release their contents outside the cell. In your nervous system, synaptic vesicles release the neurotransmitters that allow your neurons to communicate.
In medicine, the term is used to describe a small, fluid-filled blister on the skin. These are typically less than 5 mm in diameter. They can be caused by various factors, ranging from simple friction and allergic reactions to viral infections like chickenpox or shingles.
In geology, vesicles refer to the small cavities or pits found in volcanic rocks, such as basalt or pumice. These holes were originally gas bubbles trapped in lava as it cooled and solidified. When a rock is filled with these tiny holes, geologists describe it as having a "vesicular" texture.
From the microscopic inner workings of your body to the rugged surfaces of volcanic stone, vesicles represent the essential "packaging" of the natural world—tiny bubbles with very big jobs to do!
Examples
- 1
Medical examination
The doctor noticed a small vesicle on the child's lower lip.
- Domain
in medicine, a vesicle is a small fluid-filled sac, often on the skin
- 2
Cell biology
Inside the cell, vesicles move proteins from one part to another.
- 3
Drug delivery
Researchers designed tiny lipid vesicles to carry the drug directly into the tissue.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- vesiclenoun
Forms
- vesiclespluralnoun