phagocyte
Pathogen-consuming cell
A phagocyte is a cell that engulfs and digests foreign particles, bacteria, or dead cells.
White blood cells called macrophages and neutrophils are the body's primary phagocytes, serving as a first line of immune defense.
The process itself is called phagocytosis—the cell essentially "eats" the invader.
Multi-lobed immune cell
- monocytePhagocytic blood leukocyte
- eosinophilAcidophilic white blood cell
- basophilGranular immune cell type
- microgliaCNS immune cells
Kupffer cell · granulocyte · myeloid · leukocyte · white blood cell · mast cell
Cellular ingestion of particles
- engulfmentComplete surrounding and absorption
- ingestionConsuming into the body
- chemotaxisMovement toward chemical cues
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
binding · internalization · digestion · degradation · lysosome · pseudopod · membrane · vesicle
Inherited pathogen defense system
- immune responseBody fighting foreign threats
- cytokineImmune signaling molecule
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- complementWhat makes complete
immunoglobulin · interferon · interleukin · histamine · defense · protection · surveillance
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- granulomaInflammatory mass walling off foreign material
- abscessLocalized pus collection
- chronic inflammationPersistent immune response in tissues
neutrophil
Multi-lobed immune cell
- monocytePhagocytic blood leukocyte
- eosinophilAcidophilic white blood cell
- basophilGranular immune cell type
microglia · Kupffer cell · granulocyte · myeloid · leukocyte · white blood cell · mast cell
phagocytosis
Cellular ingestion of particles
- engulfmentComplete surrounding and absorption
- ingestionConsuming into the body
- chemotaxisMovement toward chemical cues
receptor · binding · internalization · digestion · degradation · lysosome · pseudopod · membrane · vesicle · fusion
innate immunity
Inherited pathogen defense system
- immune responseBody fighting foreign threats
- cytokineImmune signaling molecule
- inflammationProtective tissue response
complement · immunoglobulin · interferon · interleukin · histamine · defense · protection · surveillance
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
fungus · parasite · debris · antigen · dust · pollen · microorganism
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- granulomaInflammatory mass walling off foreign material
- abscessLocalized pus collection
chronic inflammation · autoimmune · immunodeficiency · leukemia · neutropenia
- cellscells, blood cell, cell theory, nerve cell, red blood cell
- immunityimmune, immunity, immune system, immune response, immune cells
- immune cellsT cells, lymphocytes, monocyte, monocytes, neutrophil
- microbe eatersneutrophil, white blood cell
- bloodblood, plasma, platelet, platelets, red blood cell
- blood cellsred blood cell, red blood cells, white blood cell, white blood cells, red cells