Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

Main Difference

The main difference between pinocytosis and phagocytosis is that pinocytosis means cellular drinking whereas phagocytosis means cellular eating.

Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Pinocytosis and Phagocytosis

Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

Pinocytosis is a cell drinking whereas phagocytosis is cell eating.

Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

Pinocytosis has small vesicles whereas phagocytosis has large vesicles.

Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

Pinocytosis takes small molecules whereas phagocytosis engulfs large molecules.

Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

In pinocytosis, invagination happens whereas, in phagocytosis, pseudopodia form.

Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

In pinocytosis, energy is generated whereas, in phagocytosis, energy is taken off.

Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

In pinocytosis, the substance for ingested can be easily absorbed on the other hand in phagocytosis; particles must be broken down into simple substances for absorption.

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Pinocytosisnoun

(biology) A form of endocytosis in which material enters a cell through its membrane and is incorporated in vesicles for digestion.

Phagocytosisnoun

A form of endocytosis in which a cell incorporates a particle by extending pseudopodia and drawing the particle into a vacuole of its cytoplasm.

Pinocytosisnoun

process by which certain cells can engulf and incorporate droplets of fluid

Phagocytosisnoun

process in which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris; an important defense against infection

Comparison Chart

Pinocytosis Phagocytosis
Pinocytosis is the ingestion of small molecules of liquid that pass through plasma membrane with the help of the formation of vesicles that are known as pinosomes Phagocytosis is the ingestion of solid particles through the plasma membrane with the help of lysosomes and phagosomes which releases enzymes to break down the large particles
Process of Engulfing
By invagination By pseudopodia
Kind of particles ingested
Liquid Solid
Substance Specific
Non-substrate specific Substrate specific
Vesicles Formed
Pinosomes Phagosomes
Types of Particles Intake
Sugar, ions, enzymes, hormones, amino acids, etc Dust, Foreign particles, bacteria, virus, etc
Location of Happening
In secretory cells In lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes
Role of Lysosomes
No role To get combined with phagosomes
Purpose
To intake particles To defense mechanism
Alternative names
Cell drinking Cell Eating
Example
Taking of hormones from the surrounding by the cells Amoeba engulf food by phagocytosis, Engulfment of bacteria by white blood cells etc
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Pinocytosis vs. Phagocytosis

Pinocytosis is called cell drinking as the substances are in dissolved form and ready for cellular absorption. Phagocytosis is called cell eating as substances get broken down into simple substances with the help of enzymes for absorption. A process called engulfment is held in both Pinocytosis and Phagocytosis. In pinocytosis, infolding of the cell membrane occurs along with the extracellular fluid and the solute molecules dissolved in it. This process is called invagination. In phagocytosis, feet-like processes called pseudopodia are formed. These are extended around the molecule to be internalized and taken into the cell.

Pinocytosis is performed by all types of cell. It is generally responsible for the uptake of small molecules and solute molecules from the surroundings. Phagocytosis is performed by only phagocytic cells. It is concerned with the elimination of foreign pathogens and materials in higher animals. Pinocytic cells are not specific in the particles they invaginate whereas phagocytic cells are very specific in the molecules they engulf.

During pinocytosis, vesicles formed are of very small size about 0.5 to 5 µm in diameter and are called pinocytic vesicles and pinosomes. During phagocytosis, vesicles are formed from the engulfed particles and are called phagosomes. These phagosomes are more extensive than 0.75 µm in diameter. In pinocytosis, a small amount of energy is generated in the form of ATP whereas, in phagocytosis, a large amount of energy is given off. After pinocytosis, no exocytosis occurs whereas, after phagocytosis, foreign particles are eliminated by exocytosis.

What is Pinocytosis?

Christain de Due in 1963 gave the term endocytosis. Pinocytosis refers to the intake of substances through the plasma membrane by forming vesicles on the cell surface. Pinocytosis is the ingestion of small solute molecules by invagination into the cell. It occurs in all cells of multicellular organisms. Pinocytosis occurs through small narrow channels on the membrane. Plasma membrane surrounds the liquid molecules to pinch them off into the cell.

Process

In the process of pinocytosis, small liquid molecules get engulfed by themselves by attaching on the surface of the plasma membrane. These small particles attach to the specific receptors located on the outer surface of the plasma membrane. Subsequently, plasma membrane forms the membrane-bounded vesicles called pinosomes which is an invaginated area encapsulating the particles. Pinosomes are formed by clathrin-coated pits. These pinosomes finally travel towards the cytoplasm and are released into the cell.

Examples

There are many examples of pinocytosis in cells. Cells take up hormones from the surrounding by pinocytosis. The epithelial cells of the ovum and intestine take up nutrients with the help of this process. Similarly, root hair cells in plants take water and solute molecules from the wet soil by this mechanism.

What is Phagocytosis?

Phagocytosis is a process in which a cell or any large particle is phagocytosed by another cell. This process is called the eating process. This occurs when another cell is stressed, old, damaged, cancerous or infected by virus or foreign. Cells engulf or eat large polar molecules, sugars and protein etc, through their hydrophobic cell membrane by the process of endocytosis. This is an energy-consuming process.

It is required by the cell to act several functions such as recycling of surface receptors, engulfing and degrading various pathogenic agents from the surrounding of cell and importing extracellular molecules into the cell. It is mostly present in the immune cells of the body. This process occurs through various receptors (immunoglobulin, mannose, ß-glucan, etc) hence regarded as a triggered process.

Process

The plasma membrane of the cell surrounds and fuses with the molecules to be engulfed by forming pseudopodia, where phagocytic vesicles are formed called phagosomes. Food vacuole is created by the combination of the phagosomes and lysosomes of the cell. These phagosomes along with the lysosomes release digestive enzymes which help digest the phagosomes.

Examples

There are many examples of phagocytosis. For example certain protozoans (amoeba) engulf foreign food by phagocytosis. In the immune system of mammals, some foreign particles like pathogens are internalized by specialized phagocytic cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, etc. Phagocytosis can also be seen in Langerhans cells in the skin, the pigmented epithelium of the eye, Kupffer cells in the liver and microglia in the brain.

Conclusion

It has concluded that both pinocytosis and phagocytosis are part of endocytosis. In pinocytosis, small solute molecules are taken for nutrition purpose whereas in phagocytosis large particles are eaten for defensive purpose.