Saclike

Saclike is an adjective used to describe a biological structure that resembles a sac—a membranous, usually hollow pouch or cavity bounded by tissue. The term comes from Latin sacculus, meaning a small bag, with the English suffix -like indicating resemblance.

In anatomy and medicine, saclike structures are common and can vary in size, lining, and contents. They are typically bounded by a membrane or layer of cells and may contain fluids, air, or tissue. Examples include the gallbladder and urinary bladder, both of which are saclike organs; the pleural sacs surrounding the lungs; and the pericardial sac encasing the heart. In the respiratory system, the alveolar sacs are clusters of tiny sacs that participate in gas exchange. In joints, bursae are fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction.

In cell biology, saclike compartments include vesicles and vacuoles, which store and transport substances within the cell. Pathology frequently uses the term to describe cysts or other sac-shaped lesions, which are closed or nearly closed sacs lined by epithelium or other tissue.

In descriptive anatomy and embryology, saclike morphology helps characterize structures whose defining feature is enclosure within a sac-like boundary rather than a solid mass. The term does not convey specific function beyond shape and boundary, and precise interpretation depends on location, lining, contents, and context.