What is the difference between Exocytosis and Endocytosis?

Exocytosis is the biological process of secreting substances through cellular membranes either to excrete waste products, transport protein, or as a regulatory function. It involves the process of vesicles fusing with the membrane and releases its content to the outside environment. Endocytosis is the process by which the plasma membrane of a cell folds inwards to ingest the material.

There are two major kinds of endocytosis: Phagocytosis and pinocytosis. A phagocytosis is a form of endocytosis in which the cell incorporates a particle by extending pseudopodia and drawing the particle into a vacuole of its cytoplasm. Pinocytosis is the process in which material enters a cell through the membrane and is incorporated in vesicles for digestion.

The body cells perform several functions in the body, such as creating energy, expelling waste, secreting chemicals, and a lot more. Two major functions which the cells carry out are exocytosis and endocytosis. Exocytosis refers to the process by which cells expel substances or molecules which are too large to pass through the cellular membrane. Endocytosis refers to a process whereby cells take in substances or molecules that are too large to pass through the cellular membrane. Exocytosis and endocytosis follow the same process in their performance mechanism.

They both transport molecules through the vesicles. Vesicles are small enclosed sacs in which substances are stored and transported. Primarily, exocytosis expels waste from the body, while endocytosis gets nutrients into the body. Endocytosis usually creates vesicles, while exocytosis usually destroys the vesicles. Exocytosis can be used in releasing proteins, enzymes, hormones, and glucose, which can be of use to the body. Endocytosis is usually used to receive nutrients.