Macrophage
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Macrophages are a type of white blood cell of the innate immune system that engulf and digest pathogens, such as cancer cells, microbes, cellular debris and foreign substances, which do not have prote
Gram stain of a macrophage with ingested S. epidermidis bacteria, seen as purple granules within its cytoplasm.
A macrophage stretching its "arms" (filopodia) to engulf two particles, possibly pathogens, in a mouse (trypan blue exclusion staining).
Siderophage
Anthracotic macrophage
Phagocytosis
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Phagocytosis is the process by which a cell uses its plasma membrane to engulf a large particle, giving rise to an internal compartment called the phagosome. It is one type of endocytosis. A cell that
Macrophage
…surface. This self-protection method can be contrasted with that employed by Natural Killer cells. This process of engulfment and digestion is called phagocytosis; it acts to defend the host against infection and injury. Macrophages are found in essentially all tissues, where they patrol for potential pathogens…
Scanning electron micrograph of a phagocyte (yellow, right) phagocytosing anthrax bacilli (orange, left)
Trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica with ingested erythrocytes
Starling Feeding Offspring