Which cellular organelle contains enzymes that are considered digestive?

Prepare for the TEAS Nursing Entrance Exam with comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question is accompanied by hints and explanations to ensure you ace your test and start your nursing career.

The correct choice is the lysosomes, which are specialized cellular organelles that contain a variety of enzymes specifically designed for digestion. These enzymes are capable of breaking down different types of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. This function is crucial for cellular maintenance and recycling, as lysosomes help to digest worn-out organelles, cellular debris, and engulfed pathogens, thereby contributing to cellular homeostasis and overall health.

In contrast, the Golgi apparatus is primarily involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins and lipids for secretion or for use within the cell, rather than digestion. The nucleus houses the cell's genetic material and coordinates activities like growth, metabolism, and reproduction but does not perform digestive functions. Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis, translating messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptides, and do not contain digestive enzymes. Thus, lysosomes are uniquely equipped for the purpose of digestion within the cell.

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