Phagocytosis Flashcards
What’s the second line of defense if a pathogen gets past the physical and chemical barriers?
White blood cells.
What white blood cell has a non-specific response?
Phagocytes.
What white blood cell has a specific response?
Lymphocytes.
What is a phagocyte?
A type of white blood cell called a macrophage that carries out phagocytosis.
How is phagocytosis non-specific?
Any non-self cell that is detected will trigger the same response to destroy it
Where are phagocytes found?
In the blood and tissue.
What are phagocytes attracted to and move towards?
Any chemicals released by pathogens or abnormal cells.
What will the phagocyte attach to after it moves towards the pathogen?
The chemicals or antigens on the pathogen.
How does the phagocyte attach to the chemicals or antigens on the pathogen?
Via their receptor binding points on their surface.
What happens after the phagocyte attaches to the pathogen?
It changes shape to move around and engulf the pathogen.
What is the pathogen contained in with after it is engulfed?
A phagosome vesicle.
What will fuse with the phagosome after the pathogen is engulfed?
A lysosome within the phagocyte.
What does the lysosome do when it fuses to the phagosome?
Releases it’s contents into it.
What enzyme is released into the phagosome by the lysosome?
Lysozymes.
What does the lysozyme enzyme in the phagosome do?
Hydrolyses and destroys the pathogen.
