National League for Nursing (NLN) Science Practice Exam

In which organelle can digestive enzymes be found?

1. Lysosomes

2. Mitochondria

3. Golgi apparatus

4. Ribosomes

The correct answer is: Lysosomes

The correct response is that lysosomes are the organelles that contain digestive enzymes. Lysosomes are membrane-bound structures within cells that serve as the digestive system of the cell. They are responsible for breaking down waste materials and cellular debris through various enzymatic processes. The enzymes within lysosomes are powerful and capable of degrading proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids, which allows the cell to recycle components and maintain overall cellular health. In contrast, mitochondria are primarily involved in energy production and are known as the powerhouse of the cell, producing ATP through cellular respiration. The Golgi apparatus functions in processing and packaging proteins and lipids, playing a critical role in secretion and transport rather than digestion. Ribosomes, on the other hand, are the sites of protein synthesis, translating messenger RNA into polypeptide chains, but they do not contain digestive enzymes. These distinctions highlight the unique functions of each organelle, emphasizing why lysosomes are specifically recognized for housing digestive enzymes.