Size,　shape,　and　protein　corona　play　a　key　role　in　cellular　uptake　and　removal　mechanisms　of　gold　nanoparticles　(Au　NPs).　The　15　nm　nanoparticles　(NP1),　the　45　nm　nanoparticles　(NP2),　and　the　rod-shaped　nanoparticles　(NR)　enter　into　cells　via　a　receptor-mediated　endocytosis　(RME)　pathway.　The　star-shaped　nanoparticles　(NS)　adopt　not　only　clathrin-mediated,　but　also　caveolin-mediated　endocytosis　pathways.　However,　the　80　nm　nanoparitcles　(NP3)　mainly　enter　into　the　cells　by　macropinocytosis　pathway　due　to　the　big　size.　Furthermore,　the　results　indicate　that　the　presence　of　protein　corona　can　change　the　uptake　mechanisms　of　Au　NPs.　The　endocytosis　pathway　of　NP1,　NP2,　and　NS　changes　from　RME　to　macropinocytosis　pathway　and　NR　changes　from　RME　to　clathrin　and　caveolin-independent　pathway　under　the　non-fetal　bovine　serun　(FBS)-coated　condition.　Both　FBS-coated　and　non-FBS-coated　of　five　types　of　Au　NPs　are　released　out　through　the　lysosomal　exocytosis　pathway.　The　size,　shape,　and　protein　corona　have　an　effect　on　the　exocytosis　ratio　and　amount,　but　do　not　change　the　exocytosis　mechanism.　The　systematic　study　of　the　endocytosis　and　exocytosis　mechanism　of　Au　NPs　with　different　sizes　and　shapes　will　benefit　the　toxicology　evaluation　and　nanomedicine　application　of　Au　NPs.