Quick Facts
The cytosol is the liquid medium of the cytoplasm, i.e., cytoplasm minus organelles and nonmembranous insoluble components (Dorland, 2011).
Structure and/or Key Feature(s)
The cytosol (which can occupy about 50% of the cell volume) is an aqueous gel containing solutes, inorganic ions, and organic molecules especially carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. This content is carefully regulated by the cell (McKinley, O'Loughlin and Pennefather-O'Brien, 2016).
Function
The cytosol is the aqueous medium for many of the cell’s metabolic activities and movements of materials, organelles, etc.
References
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
McKinley, M. P., O'Loughlin, V. D. and Pennefather-O'Brien, E. E. (2016) Human Anatomy. 5th edn.: McGraw-Hill Education.
