Phagocytosis

Macrophages are scavenger cells that can ingest dead tissue and foreign cells. Macrophages form tentacles called pseudopods to surround an invader. Once inside the macrophage, the invader is walled off and then digested and destroyed by a bag of digestive chemicals, or enzymes.

Update Date: 11/16/2010

Updated by: Paula J. Busse, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Immune System and Disorders

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