Cell drinking.

Cell drinking.

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

Answer: (B)

Cell drinking refers to pinocytosis, a fluid-phase endocytosis in which the cell takes in extracellular fluid and dissolved substances by forming tiny vesicles from the plasma membrane. The uptake is typically non-specific, helping the cell sample its surroundings and absorb dissolved nutrients carried in solution. The membrane folds inward, vesicles pinch off into the cytoplasm, and their contents are released inside. This differs from phagocytosis, which engulfs large particles like bacteria or debris, and from exocytosis, which exports substances out of the cell. Endocytosis is the broader process that includes pinocytosis and phagocytosis, while exocytosis is the opposite direction. So, cell drinking is best described by pinocytosis because it involves uptake of fluid rather than solids.

Cell drinking refers to pinocytosis, a fluid-phase endocytosis in which the cell takes in extracellular fluid and dissolved substances by forming tiny vesicles from the plasma membrane. The uptake is typically non-specific, helping the cell sample its surroundings and absorb dissolved nutrients carried in solution. The membrane folds inward, vesicles pinch off into the cytoplasm, and their contents are released inside. This differs from phagocytosis, which engulfs large particles like bacteria or debris, and from exocytosis, which exports substances out of the cell. Endocytosis is the broader process that includes pinocytosis and phagocytosis, while exocytosis is the opposite direction. So, cell drinking is best described by pinocytosis because it involves uptake of fluid rather than solids.