Immunity

• Phagocytosis


  The process by which a cell engulfs and digests a particle or pathogen
• Phagocytes


  • Found in the blood and tissues
  • Detect chemicals, debris, or abnormal cells
  • Move towards the detected substances
• Phagocytosis


  1. Phagocyte receptors bind to pathogen

  2. Phagocyte changes shape to engulf pathogen

  3. Pathogen contained in phagosome

  4. Lysosome fuses with phagosome

  5. Lysosomal enzymes destroy pathogen

  6. Phagocyte becomes antigen presenting cell
• Lysosome


  Vesicle containing enzymes that can destroy pathogens
• Lysozyme


  Enzyme in lysosomes that can hydrolyze and destroy pathogens
• Phagocytosis is a non-specific immune response, meaning it responds the same way to any detected non-self substance
• Phagocytes can engulf and destroy abnormal cells, transplants, and pathogens
• Phagocytes become antigen presenting cells after destroying pathogens