Final answer:
The exchange of materials among cellular components like the ER and Golgi apparatus is mediated by vesicle transport, which is a form of active transport. Vesicles are used to move materials within the cell and across the cell membrane, and this process requires energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The continual exchange of materials between the ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, plasma membrane, and the outside of the cell is mediated by vesicle transport. This involves the movement of vesicles, which are small membrane-bound sacs that can transport materials within the cell and across the cell membrane. Transport vesicles move proteins from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus where they are modified and packaged. Endocytosis and exocytosis are two types of vesicle transport; endocytosis involves the engulfing of material into the cell and exocytosis involves the release of material from the cell. This process is crucial for cells to intake essential nutrients and output waste products, and sometimes it occurs against the gradient, thus requiring energy, a characteristic of active transport.