sacculate

Sacculate is an adjective used in biological and anatomical descriptions to denote the presence of sacs or saclike formations. In general sense, something sacculate possesses saccules, sacs, or pouch-like cavities, either as part of its external morphology or internal anatomy. The term derives from Latin sacculus, meaning "little sack," via the diminutive suffix -ulus and the adjectival -ate.

In botany and plant anatomy, sacculate may describe features such as leaves, seeds, or floral organs that show small saclike projections or internal cavities. In zoology and anatomy, it is used to describe tissues or organs that contain sacs or have sac-like extensions, such as diverticula or vesicles within an organ. In malacology and invertebrate anatomy, sacculate structures can refer to pouching within digestive or reproductive systems. The term is comparatively rare and mostly confined to taxonomic descriptions and detailed morphological works. It is often distinguished from saccate, a more common term for pouch-like or bag-shaped structures that are generally larger or more conspicuous.

Related terms include sac, sacculation, and saccate. When used, sacculate typically serves to signal a specific, often small-scale sac-like feature rather than a broadly pouch-shaped form. The word is part of formal descriptive vocabulary and not usually used in everyday biological narration.