Tag: Cell organelles

Every human cell recycles its entire stock of ATP, the body's energy currency, every one to two minutes. This incredible energy turnover is made possible by a complex system of cellular machinery, primarily the mitochondria and lysosomes, which are responsible for the critical task of breaking down food and converting it into usable energy.

In many single-celled organisms and some animal cells, the food vacuole is a specialized membrane-bound organelle that functions as an intracellular digestive system. Its primary role, and the definitive function of the food VA, is to ingest and break down food particles to provide essential nutrients for the cell's metabolic activities and growth. This process is crucial for the survival of organisms like amoeba and paramecium.

In the human body, an intricate system ensures energy reserves are readily available, with the liver storing around 100g of glycogen. This complex process explains exactly what is responsible for the storage of nutrients in both organisms and individual cells.