Phagocytosis is a natural process in the body in which immune system cells encompass large particles by issuing pseudopods, which are structures that emerge as an expansion of their plasma membrane, in order to fight and prevent infections.
In addition to being a process performed by immune system cells, phagocytosis can also be performed by microorganisms, including protozoa, in order to obtain the nutrients needed for their development and proliferation.
- The most common and common phagocytosis that occurs is to combat and prevent the development of infections and.
- For this purpose.
- It occurs in a few steps.
- Namely:.
After intracellular digestion, some residues may remain inside the vacuoles, which can then be removed by the cell. These residues can then be captured by protozoa, also by phagocytosis, to be used as nutrients.
According to the phagocytosis agent, phagocytosis can be performed for two different purposes:
Phagocytosis is a natural process of the body and it is important that phagocytic cells are selective with respect to the phagocytic agent, because otherwise there could be phagocytosis of other cells and structures of the body, which could influence the proper functioning of the body. Body.