Anatomy

Lysosomes

A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed).

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed).

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Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Lysosome
  • Autolysosome
  • Autolysosomes

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Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

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History Note

65(64)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. A11w.284w.430w.214w.190.875w.190.550w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QU 350

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Lysosomes. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D008247. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D008247
  2. Lysosomes. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysosome
  3. Lysosomes. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q83330