An organelle often found in protozoa that pumps excess water out of the cell to keep the cell from bursting in a hypotonic environment (like freshwater).
In appearance, round and clear; functions in water regulation in freshwater protists.
a spherical drop of watery fluid which makes its appearance periodically at some particular spot near the surface of the animals body, or, if more than one such vacuole is present, at several definite and constant places
A membrane-bound vesicle that expands and contracts to expel excess water
KON-tract-till VAK-u-ol An organelle in a paramecium that pumps water out of the cell. 90, 459
An organelle that pumps excess water out of many freshwater protist cells.
In many protists, a specialized vacuole with associated channels designed to collect excess water in the cell. Microtubules periodically contract to force this excess water out of the cell, regulating the cell's osmotic balance.
A contractile vacuole is a type of vacuole involved in osmoregulation. It pumps excess water out of a cell and is found prominently in freshwater protists.