The function of a digestive vacuole in an amoeba is to collect and digest food. More specifically, the food vacuole collects food from outside the amoeba and digests it within the amoeba's body.
Detailed Explanation of the Digestive Vacuole's Role:
The digestive vacuole plays a crucial role in the amoeba's survival by enabling it to obtain nutrients from its environment. Here's a breakdown of its function:
Steps in Food Digestion by Digestive Vacuole:
- Food Intake (Phagocytosis): The amoeba engulfs food particles through a process called phagocytosis. The cell membrane extends outwards to surround the food, forming a vesicle.
- Vacuole Formation: The vesicle containing the food particle pinches off from the cell membrane, creating a food vacuole. This vacuole is now inside the amoeba's cytoplasm.
- Digestion: The food vacuole fuses with lysosomes, which are organelles containing digestive enzymes.
- Enzyme Action: The digestive enzymes break down the complex food molecules into simpler, soluble substances.
- Absorption: The smaller nutrient molecules are absorbed into the cytoplasm of the amoeba.
- Waste Elimination (Exocytosis): Indigestible materials remain within the vacuole. The vacuole then moves to the cell membrane and releases the waste products outside the cell through exocytosis.
Summary Table: Function of Digestive Vacuole
| Process | Description |
|---|---|
| Phagocytosis | Engulfing food particles from the environment. |
| Vacuole Formation | Creation of the food vacuole containing the food particle. |
| Digestion | Breakdown of complex food molecules by digestive enzymes. |
| Absorption | Uptake of the digested nutrients into the cytoplasm. |
| Exocytosis | Elimination of undigested waste materials from the cell. |
