Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles found in animal cells that contain digestive enzymes. They help digest food, engulf foreign objects, and break down cellular waste and old cell components. Lysosomes were first observed under an electron microscope in 1955 and are formed from the Golgi complex. They contain over 40 enzymes and function to digest materials within the cell, defend against invaders, and aid in cellular renewal and degradation of dead cells.