Vesicular

Vesicular refers to something that is related to or characterized by vesicles. In the context of biology and medicine, a vesicle is a small structure within a cell, consisting of fluid enclosed by a lipid bilayer. Vesicles form naturally during the processes of secretion, uptake and transport of materials within the cell. They can also be artificially prepared.

Structure and Function

Vesicles are composed of a lipid bilayer membrane, surrounding a core consisting of a variety of substances. They are a basic tool used by the cell for organizing cellular substances. Vesicles are involved in metabolism, transport, buoyancy control, enzyme storage, and as chemical reaction chambers.

Types of Vesicles

There are several types of vesicles, including:

• Vacuoles: They are vesicles which contain mostly water.
• Lysosomes: These are vesicles that contain digestive enzymes to break down waste materials and cellular debris.
• Transport Vesicles: They move molecules between locations inside the cell.
• Secretory Vesicles: These vesicles hold various secretory products that are released into the extracellular environment.

Vesicular Diseases

Vesicular diseases are diseases that cause blisters and vesicles on the skin or mucous membranes. Some examples of vesicular diseases include:

• Herpes Simplex: This is a viral disease caused by the herpes simplex virus.
• Chickenpox: This is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
• Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: This is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than 5 years old.

See Also

• Cell (biology)
• Organelle
• Endomembrane system
• Exocytosis
• Endocytosis