BRAINCAKEPhagocytosis
Phagocytosis is one main mechanisms of the non-specific immune defence and one of the first processes responding to infection.
Although most cells are capable of phagocytosis, some cell types perform it as part of their main function. These are called 'professional phagocytes.'
Neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells are professional phagocytes.
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Key terms in this lesson
- organelle
- A membrane-bound structure within a cell with a specific structure suited to a specific function.
- lysosome
- A vesicle containing hydrolytic enzymes that breaks down waste material, old organelles and pathogens.
- phagocytosis
- The process by which a cell, such as a white blood cell, engulfs and digests a pathogen or debris.
- pathogen
- A microorganism that causes disease.
- antigen
- A molecule, usually a protein, on the surface of a cell or pathogen that triggers an immune response.
More in Communicable Diseases
- Mammals - non-Specific Defences
- Blood Clotting
- Inflammatory Response
- Fevers
- Counting Blood Cells
- Cytokines
- Opsonins
- Antibodies
All 40 lessons in Communicable Diseases · All OCR AS-level Biology topics