Pinocytotic Vesicles in AP Biology

Definition

These are tiny vesicles that take in fluids and dissolved substances from outside the cell by invagination and pinching off of the plasma membrane, a process known as pinocytosis.

Related terms

Vesicle:

A small structure within a cell, consisting of fluid enclosed by a lipid bilayer. They're like little 'bubbles' inside cells that transport materials.

Pinocytosis:

This is often referred to as 'cell drinking'. It's when cells engulf liquid particles into small vesicles.

Endosomes: These are compartments inside eukaryotic cells where substances absorbed by endocytosis are transported to.