Final answer:
Lysosomes are digestive compartments within a cell that contain enzymes for breaking down ingested substances and damaged organelles that play a crucial role in cellular digestion and waste management.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lysosomes are round organelles surrounded by a membrane that house digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down ingested substances and damaged organelles. They contain a variety of hydrolytic enzymes, such as lipases, proteases, and nucleases, which can break down organic polymers.
Lysosomes are responsible for the degradation and recycling of cellular components, as well as the digestion of foreign materials through processes like phagocytosis. So therefore, lysosomes can open up within the cell itself, leading to cell death, which is known as apoptosis.