5.2 phagocytosis

• there are two types of white blood cells:

  1. phagocytes
  2. lymphocytes
• phagocytes ingest and destroy the pathogen by a process called phagocytosis
• phagocytosis:

  1. phagocyte is attracted to the pathogen by a chemical released by the pathogen
  2. the phagocyte has several receptors on the cell-surface membrane which attach to the chemicals
  3. lysosomes within the phagosome formed by engulfing the bacterium
  4. lysosomes release lysozymes to hydrolyse bacterium
  5. hydrolysis products are absorbed by the phagocyte
• the phagocyte forms a vesicle known as a phagosome