Endocytosis

Cellular process in which a portion of the plasma membrane invaginates and pinches off to internalize extracellular fluid, solutes, ligands and membrane components into vesicles for trafficking, signaling modulation or degradation.

Collective term for cellular processes by which regions of the plasma membrane invaginate or bud to form intracellular vesicles that internalize extracellular fluid, solutes, ligands and membrane components; major modes include clathrin‑mediated endocytosis, caveolar pathways, macropinocytosis and phagocytosis, each defined by distinct coat proteins, regulators and cargo selection mechanisms.