Endocytosis and Exocytosis definitions Flashcards

The process by which a cell engulfs large molecules or particles by wrapping its plasma membrane around them, forming a vesicle that brings the substances into the cell.

The process by which cells expel large molecules or vesicles by fusing them with the plasma membrane.

A selective barrier that regulates the entry and exit of substances in and out of the cell, facilitating communication and maintaining homeostasis.

Large molecules essential for life, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids, that cannot diffuse through cell membranes and require processes like endocytosis or exocytosis for transport.

Complex molecules composed of amino acids, essential for cellular structure, function, and regulation, unable to diffuse through membranes due to their size, requiring specialized transport mechanisms.

Organic molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary energy source and structural component in cells.

Large biomolecules, such as DNA and RNA, that store and transmit genetic information, essential for cell function and heredity.

A molecule that carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.

The process by which a cell engulfs large particles or microorganisms, forming an internal vesicle known as a phagosome, to digest and eliminate them.

A form of endocytosis where the cell engulfs extracellular fluid and its dissolved solutes, non-selectively, into small vesicles, often referred to as "cell drinking."

A selective form of endocytosis where cells use specific receptors to identify and internalize target molecules from the extracellular fluid.

A small, membrane-bound sac within a cell that transports large molecules via endocytosis or exocytosis.

The process by which large molecules are transported across cell membranes via endocytosis or exocytosis, involving the engulfing or expelling of substances within vesicles.

Proteins on the cell surface that bind specific molecules, triggering cellular responses or facilitating the selective intake of substances via endocytosis.