exocytosis

[ek-soh-sahy-toh-sis]

noun

Physiology.

1. the transport of material out of a cell by means of a sac or vesicle that first engulfs the material and then is extruded through an opening in the cell membrane (endocytosis ).

exocytosis

/ ˌɛksəʊsaɪˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

1. a process by which material is exported from a biological cell

Other Word Forms

• exocytotic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exocytosis¹

1960–65; exo- + -cyte + -osis; endocytosis