What is phagocytosis? Definition and Mechanism of Phagocytosis. Steps in the phagocytosis of a bacterium. Macrophage phagocytizing a virus. Learn how phagocytic cells ingest and kill invading pathogens or dead/dying cells by phagocytosis , a type of endocytosis. Explore the receptors, mechanisms, and products involved in this innate defense mechanism. Phagocytosis is a type of endocytosis whereby a cell engulfs a particle in an internal compartment- the phagosome. The cell rearranges its membrane to surround and internalise the target particle. Phagocytosis is a major mechanism for detecting and removing potentially pathogenic material. Phagocytes also have lysosomes which are membrane-bound organelles containing hydrolytic enzymes. These fuse with phagosomes and release their cargo into the phagosome, degrading any internalised particles ... Phagocytosis is the process by which cells bind and internalize potentially dangerous microorganisms, cells and cellular debris, and foreign objects 1. During phagocytosis , professional phagocytes ...
