The endomembrane system is composed of the different membranes that are suspended in the cytoplasm within the cells of Eukaryotes. These membranes divide the cell into functional and structural compartments, or organelles. In eukaryotes the organelles of the endomembrane system include: the nuclear envelope, the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles, vesicles, and the cell membrane. The system is defined more accurately as the set of membranes that form a single functional and developmental unit, either being connected together directly, or exchanging material through vesicle transport. Also see: Domain Eukaryota Eukaryotic Animal Cell Eukaryotic Plant Cell |