phagocytosis
alt=|thumb|323x323px|Overview of phagocytosis thumb|300px|Phagocytosis versus exocytosis Phagocytosis () is the process by which a cell uses its plasma membrane to engulf a large particle (≥ 0.5 μm), giving rise to an internal compartment called the phagosome. It is one type of endocytosis. A cell that performs phagocytosis is called a phagocyte. thumb|The engulfing of a pathogen by a phagocyte In a multicellular organism's immune system, phagocytosis is a major mechanism used to remove pathogens and cell debris. The ingested material is then digested in the phagosome. Bacteria, dead tissue ce
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Phagocytosis is a process in which a cell uses its membrane to engulf large particles, forming an internal compartment called a phagosome. In your body's immune system, this process is crucial for removing harmful pathogens and dead cell debris by engulfing and digesting them.
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Article
13 sectionsContents
- History
- In immune system
- Professional phagocytic cells
- Initiating receptors
- Fcγ receptors
- Complement receptors
- Mannose receptors
- Phagosome
- In apoptosis
- In protists
- See also
- References
- External links
alt=|thumb|323x323px|Overview of phagocytosis thumb|300px|Phagocytosis versus exocytosis Phagocytosis () is the process by which a cell uses its plasma membrane to engulf a large particle (≥ 0.5 μm), giving rise to an internal compartment called the phagosome. It is one type of endocytosis. A cell that performs phagocytosis is called a phagocyte. thumb|The engulfing of a pathogen by a phagocyte In a multicellular organism's immune system, phagocytosis is a major mechanism used to remove pathogens and cell debris. The ingested material is then digested in the phagosome. Bacteria, dead tissue cells, and small mineral particles are all examples of objects that may be phagocytized. Some protozoa use phagocytosis as means to obtain nutrients. The two main cells that do this are the Macrophages and the Neutrophils of the immune system.
Where phagocytosis is used as a means of feeding and provides the organism part or all of its nourishment, it is called phagotrophy and is distinguished from osmotrophy, which is nutrition taking place by absorption.