Phagocytosis is when a cell eats something inside the body. This helps the immune system get rid of sick cells and viruses. Even tiny amoebas use phagocytosis to eat. To engulf something, the cell has to touch it first. It doesn't matter what kind of bad thing the cell wants to eat, it reacts the same way.

What types of cells perform phagocytosis?

Unicellular organisms perform phagocytosis, but instead of destroying infected cells or viruses, they use it to eat.

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Multicellular organisms use phagocytosis as an immune response. The different cells that perform phagocytosis are macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts.

The cells used in multicellular phagocytosis

What are the steps of phagocytosis?

A phagosome is a vesicle, a small cellular structure filled with fluid. Its goal is to destroy whatever is trapped inside it such as a pathogen or cellular debris.

What happens after phagocytosis occurs?

After phagocytosis happens, special cells called dendritic cells help move T cells to the part of the body where the bad thing was eaten. The dendritic cells show the T cells what the bad thing looks like so the T cells can remember it in the future. This is called antigen presentation. Another type of cell called macrophages also do this. They eat bad cells and then show their parts to T cells. When phagocytosis is done, cells get rid of the bad stuff inside them through exocytosis.

Differences of pinocytosis and phagocytosis

Phagocytosis helps get rid of bad cells, but there's another process called pinocytosis that helps too. Instead of eating solids, pinocytosis eats liquids in the body. It usually eats things like ions, amino acids, and sugars. Just like phagocytosis, small cells get attached to the outside of the cell and then eaten. They also make their own version of a phagosome called a pinosome. The difference is that pinocytosis doesn't use lysosomes. It can eat all kinds of liquids, not just specific ones like phagocytosis.

Phagocytosis - Key takeaways

Phagocytosis is a process where a cell eats a pathogen by engulfing it. This can be used by both single-celled and multi-celled organisms for immune defense. The cell needs to be in direct contact with what it wants to eat. Pinocytosis is similar, but it absorbs liquids instead of solids. After phagocytosis is done, exocytosis happens. This is when cells get rid of toxins from inside them.

Phagocytosis

What is phagocytosis?

The process in which a cell attaches itself to a pathogen and destroys it.

 How does phagocytosis work?

Phagocytosis occurs in five steps.1. Activation 2. Chemotaxis 3. Attachment 4. Consumption 5. Exocytosis

What happens after phagocytosis?

Dendritic and macrophages are sent to organs in order to show other cells where the pathogens are located.

What is the difference between pinocytosis and phagocytosis?

Pinocytosis consumes liquids and phagocytosis consumes solids.

What cells carry out phagocytosis?

The different cells that perform phagocytosis are macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts.

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