Question

What is a contractile vacuole? Explain it’s function

Answer 1

A contractile vacuole is an organelle that is involved in osmoregulation. It is found mostly in protists and unicellular algae. The function of the contractile vacuole is to regulate the quantity of water inside the cell. When the cell is present in freshwater environment, the quantity of solutes is higher inside the cell than outside. Therefore due to osmosis there is a flow of wtare from the outside to inside environment. The contractile vacuole functions to prevent the cell from absorbing too much water and lysing due to excessive internal pressure. The period of water expulsion by a contractile vacuole is referred to as systole whereeas the period when water flows into it is known as distole.