pinocytosis /pino·cy·to·sis/ (pi″nah-si-to´sis) a mechanism by which cells ingest extracellular fluid and its contents; it involves the formation of invaginations by the cell membrane, which close and break off to form fluid-filled vacuoles in the cytoplasm.pinocytot´ic 
pinocytosis
pinocytosis [pin″o-si-to´sis]
)
Pinocytosis of small fluid droplets.
pin·o·cy·to·sis (p n  -s-t  ss, -s -, pn-)n. Introduction of fluids into a cell by invagination of the cell membrane, followed by formation of vesicles within the cells. pin o·cy·totic (-t tk) adj. |
pinocytosis
[pī′nōsītō′sis]
Etymology: Gk, pinein + kytos + osis, condition
the process by which extracellular fluid is taken into a cell. The plasma membrane develops a saccular indentation filled with extracellular fluid and then pinches off the indentation, forming a vesicle or vacuole of fluid within the cell.
pinocytosis [pin″o-si-to´sis]
a mechanism by which cells ingest extracellular fluid and its contents; it involves the formation of invaginations by the cell membrane, which close and break off to form fluid-filled vacuoles in the cytoplasm (see accompanying illustration). adj., adj pinocytot´ic.
Mechanism of pinocytosis. Tiny droplets of fluid are trapped by the folds of the plasma membrane and engulfed as fluid-filled vesicles into the cytoplasm.
pinocytosis (pī´nōsītō´sis),
n See phagocytosis.
pinocytosis
a mechanism by which cells ingest extracellular fluid and its contents; it involves the formation of invaginations by the cell membrane, which close and break off to form fluid-filled vacuoles in the cytoplasm. 
)
Mechanism of pinocytosis. By permission from Guyton R, Hall JE, Textbook of Medical Physiology, Saunders, 2000
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