pinocytosis

American  

[pin-uh-sahy-toh-sis, pahy-nuh-] / ˌpɪn ə saɪˈtoʊ sɪs, ˌpaɪ nə- /

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 Word Forms

• pinocytotic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pinocytosis

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

Compare meaning

How does pinocytosis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• phagocytosis vs. pinocytosis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pinocytosis

Similarly, in pinocytosis or “cell drinking,” the cell takes in droplets of liquid.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Describe the process of potocytosis and explain how it differs from pinocytosis.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Many cells take up liquid from the environment in a similar process called pinocytosis.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2018

Why is receptor-mediated endocytosis said to be more selective than phagocytosis or pinocytosis?

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Phagocytosis and pinocytosis take in large portions of extracellular material, and they are typically not highly selective in the substances they bring in.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013