Biological process

calcium ion-dependent exocytosis

The release of intracellular molecules (e.g. hormones, matrix proteins) contained within a membrane-bounded vesicle by fusion of the vesicle with the plasma membrane of a cell, induced by a rise in cytosolic calcium-ion levels.

Note that the calcium regulated exocytosis pathway can be leaky: some level of exocytosis via this pathway occurs spontaneously. This phenomenon underlies spontaneous neurotransmitter release from presynapses. This phenomenon is distinct from the unregulated, calcium independent exocytosis pathway.