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Micro World

How small is a lysosome?

A typical lysosome is about 500 nm across.

What is measured: cellular organelle, typical diameter

Lysosome (500 nm) drawn to scale beside a flu virus (100 nm) and an E. coli bacterium (2 µm)
Drawn to scale, from left to right: Flu virus (100 nm), Lysosome (500 nm) and E. coli bacterium (2 µm).

Compare

How big is that, really?

  • As wide as about 5 flu viruses side by side
  • About 4 would fit end to end along an E. coli bacterium
  • As wide as about 20 ribosomes side by side

Learn

Facts about Lysosome

Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles containing digestive enzymes that break down waste and cellular debris.

Source: Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th ed.

Micro World

NameSizeCompared with Lysosome
Cowpox Virus250 nm0.5×
Collagen Fibril300 nm0.6×
Vaccinia Virus300 nm0.6×
Lysosome500 nmthis page
Mimivirus750 nm1.5×
Neisseria gonorrhoeae800 nm1.6×
Pandoravirus1 µm2×
Synechococcus Cyanobacterium1 µm2×
Nitrosomonas europaea Bacterium1.5 µm3×
Micrococcus luteus1.5 µm3×

Test your sense of scale

Which is bigger: Lysosome or Mimivirus?

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