Cisternae (plural of cisterna) refers to membranous sac-like reservoirs inside cells or organelles, particularly the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, that store and transport substances. It denotes a network of flattened, interconnected sacs involved in lipid and protein processing and trafficking, as well as in some vascular or lymphatic contexts. In anatomy, it can also describe small cavities or cisterns collecting fluids in various organs.
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