pinocytosis

[ pin-uh-sahy-toh-sis, pahy-nuh- ]

noun

, Physiology.

1. the transport of fluid into a cell by means of local infoldings by the cell membrane so that a tiny vesicle or sac forms around each droplet, which is then taken into the interior of the cytoplasm:

   Some drugs, such as penicillin, are unable to cross biological barriers unless they make use of carrier proteins or are taken across by pinocytosis.

Other Words From

• pin·o·cy·tot·ic [pin-, uh, -sahy-, tot, -ik, pahy-n, uh, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinocytosis¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Greek pín(ein) “to drink” + -o- + -cyte + -osis, on the model of phagocytosis