Phagocytosis (Noun)
Meaning
Process in which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris; an important defense against infection.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The immune system relies heavily on phagocytosis to eliminate pathogens from the body and prevent infection.
- White blood cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, use phagocytosis to remove dead cells and foreign particles from tissues.
- One of the primary functions of phagocytosis is to break down and eliminate bacterial cells that have invaded the host organism.
- Dendritic cells, a type of phagocytic cell, use phagocytosis to take up and process antigens from invading pathogens.
- The mechanism of phagocytosis involves the recognition and binding of microorganisms to specific receptors on the surface of phagocytic cells.