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cisterna

biology
Also known as: cisternae

Quick Summary

In biology, a cisterna (plural: cisternae) refers to a flattened, membrane-bound sac within a cell. These structures are key components of the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum.12

The Golgi apparatus uses cisternae to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids for transport within or out of the cell. The endoplasmic reticulum, also composed of cisternae, is involved in protein synthesis, folding, modification, and lipid synthesis. Additionally, cisternae can refer to large spaces under the arachnoid membrane in the brain.2341

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