vesicle

A vesicle is a small membrane enclosed compartment within a cell, while vacuoles are larger membrane-bound compartments. Vesicles such as lysosomes and peroxisomes function in degradation of toxic components (bacteria, metabolites).

Endosomes may form at the plasma membrane by pinocytosis as clathrin-coated pits, by phagocytosis (phagosomes) or by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Endosome may fuse with lysosomes, exposing the endosomal contents to lysis by hydrolytic enzymes. Endosomes are shuttled back and forth between plasma membrane and nucleus by cytoskeletal transport mechanisms, or may be transported across epithelial cells for release at the opposite membrane (transcytosis).

Secretory vesicles are formed at the Golgi complex and transported to the cell membrane where they release their contents.

Џ beautiful Flash 8 animation - Inner Life of the Cell, which shows vesicle budding from the Golgi complex, active transport of endosomes along the microtubular conveyor belt, and exocytosis; and, Interpretation: Inner Life of the Cell Џ