List of abbreviations
Vocabulary
of micros-
copic
anatomy
specialist terms
explained in
English +
German

Every attempt was made to provide correct information and labelling, however any liability for eventual errors or incompleteness is rejected!

dieser Seite

Editor:
Dr. med.
H. Jastrow


Conditions
of use
Overview Golgi-apparatus (GA; Complexus golgiensis; Apparatus golgiensis):
Pages with explanations are linked to the text below the images if available
Detail of a
Golgi-apparatus (monkey)
Ductus epididymidis:
RER, Golgi-apparatuses (rat)
GA of a cell of the
epididymal duct (rat)
many GA in an endocrine cell of
the adenohypophysis (rat)
GA in an epithelial cell
of the duodenum (monkey)
Golgi-apparatuses, prolac-
tinocyte, adenohypophysis (rat)
round GA of an epthelial cell of
the epididymal duct (rat)
GA of a Bowmann
gland of the nose (monkey)
GA od an epithelial cell of
the epididymal duct (rat)
GA of an epithelial cell
of the epididymal duct (rat)
Stereo-image od a GA of a supporting
cell of the organ of Corti (guinea-pig)
Golgi-apparatus, neutrophi-
le granulocyt (human)
GA of a reticular cell from
a human pharyngeal tonsil
GA of a plasma cell
(rat)
GA of a human
plasma cell
some Golgi-apparatuses
plasma cell (human)
diverse GA
plasma cell (human)
Golgi-apparatus of a
Monocyte (rat)
GA fetal kidney cell of
a Rhesus-monkey
GA of an epithelial
cell of the prostate (rat)

The Golgi apparatus (Terminologia histologica: Complexus golgiensis or Apparatus golgiensis) is a lamellar membranous structure near the nucleus of almost all cells. It consists of curved parallel series of flattened saccules called dictyosomes that are often expanded at their ends. In secretory cells e.g., salivary glands, the apparatus concentrates and packs the secretory products. The GA serves for regeneration of the cell membrane (plasmalemm) and modification of proteins (e.g. joining of proteins and glucuronic acids). Vesicles of the RER fuse on the cis-part of the GA while so called Golgi-vesicles are released on its trans-part. The so called cis side of the GA is oriented towards the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) whereas the opposite trans side gives raise to the secretory Golgi vesicles. The distance between the dish-like cisterns of the GA. which at their edges show sac-like protrusions giving raise to small vesicles, is only 20 - 30 nm. These small vesicles shall mainly serve for transport of material from one to the subsequent disc that always is from cis to trans. If these vesicles contain enzymes in high concentration they are termed primary lysosomes. In case they contain smaller vesicles, they are called multivesicular bodies.
The name of the organelle derives from Camillo Golgi (1843 - 1926), a pathologist who worked in Parvia. In the light microscope GA are hardly visible as light areas close to the nucleus at highest magnifications. GA may be stained using osmium tetroxide or silver salts for light microscopic investigations. The perinuclear (= near the nucleus) location is typical for round cells. In the secretory epithelial cells of glands the GA is always in a supranuclear position, i.e. above the nucleus on top of more or less RER in direction to the apical cytoplasm following the way of production of secretion which finally is released from the uppermost Golgi-vesicles into a lumen. In many cases two larger GA arrange around the 2 centriols which is due to microtubules originating there. These microtubules shall serve for stabilisation of the GA and for its positioning in cells. In general the GA is present in all cells bearing a nucleus and its size depends on cell activity.

--> cytoplasm, RER, SER, vesicles, endocytosis, primary lysosomes, peroxisomes, multivesicular bodies
--> Electron microscopic atlas Overview
--> Homepage of the workshop


Two pictures were kindly provided by Prof. H. Wartenberg, one by Dr. M. Klinger; other images, page & copyright H. Jastrow.