Which process describes cellular drinking?

Which process describes cellular drinking?

• A. Phagocytosis
• B. Pinocytosis
• C. Endocytosis
• D. Exocytosis

Answer: (B)

Pinocytosis describes cellular drinking. In this process the cell membrane folds inward to engulf small amounts of extracellular fluid and dissolved substances, forming tiny vesicles. It’s a non-specific uptake that samples the surrounding fluid rather than picking up large particles. This distinguishes it from phagocytosis, which engulfs large particles like bacteria, and from exocytosis, which releases substances from the cell. Endocytosis is the broad term for bringing material into the cell via vesicles, with pinocytosis being the fluid-phase form of that uptake.

Pinocytosis describes cellular drinking. In this process the cell membrane folds inward to engulf small amounts of extracellular fluid and dissolved substances, forming tiny vesicles. It’s a non-specific uptake that samples the surrounding fluid rather than picking up large particles. This distinguishes it from phagocytosis, which engulfs large particles like bacteria, and from exocytosis, which releases substances from the cell. Endocytosis is the broad term for bringing material into the cell via vesicles, with pinocytosis being the fluid-phase form of that uptake.