Algonquin College Health Program Assessment (AC-HPAT) Practice Exam

What term describes a compartment filled with water and various molecules?

1. Cytoplasm

2. Vacuole

3. Vesicle

4. Nucleus

The correct answer is: Vacuole

The term that describes a compartment filled with water and various molecules is "vacuole." Vacuoles are membrane-bound sacs found within the cytoplasm of plant and fungal cells, as well as some types of animal cells. They are primarily involved in storage and transport and can hold a variety of substances, including nutrients, waste products, and, importantly, water. In plant cells, vacuoles also play a crucial role in maintaining turgor pressure, which is essential for cell structure and stability. Cytoplasm refers to the gel-like substance that fills the interior of a cell, containing organelles, but it is not a specific compartment like a vacuole. Vesicles are small membrane-bound sacs that transport materials within the cell, but they typically do not serve as large storage compartments. The nucleus is the organelle that houses the cell's genetic material and does not function as a storage compartment for water and other molecules in the same way that vacuoles do.