Which process is described as 'cell drinking'?

Which process is described as 'cell drinking'?

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

Answer: (B)

Cell drinking is pinocytosis, a form of endocytosis where the cell takes in extracellular fluid and dissolved substances by folding in the membrane to form small vesicles. This is different from phagocytosis, which engulfs large particles like bacteria, and from exocytosis, which expels material from the cell. Endocytosis as a whole covers uptake processes, with pinocytosis specifically focusing on fluids rather than large particles, often in a non-specific manner to sample the environment and absorb nutrients.

Cell drinking is pinocytosis, a form of endocytosis where the cell takes in extracellular fluid and dissolved substances by folding in the membrane to form small vesicles. This is different from phagocytosis, which engulfs large particles like bacteria, and from exocytosis, which expels material from the cell. Endocytosis as a whole covers uptake processes, with pinocytosis specifically focusing on fluids rather than large particles, often in a non-specific manner to sample the environment and absorb nutrients.