VESICULAR TRANSPORT

A. Vesicle: Subcellular membrane-bounded container used in intracellular storage and/or membrane transport

B. Exocytosis: Movement from cytoplasm to the interstitial fluid

1. Vesicle migrates to the cell membrane and attaches (“docks”) to the membrane

2. Vesicle membrane fuses with the cell membrane

3. Vesicle contents are released into the interstitial fluid

C. Endocytosis: Movement from intestinal fluid to intracellular vesicle

1. Substance to be transported binds to cell membrane receptors

2. Cell membrane invaginates, forming vesicle containing the transported substance

3. Vesicle migrates intracellularly

D. Utility

1. Membrane transport of large molecules

2. Intracellular storage