What are phagocytes and how do they protect the body?

Phagocytes are large irregularly shaped white blood cells that are involved in the non-specific immune system. They have the ability to engulf and digest foreign bodies, destroying them in a process known as phagocytosis. They do this by firstly surrounding a microbe and trapping it in a membrane sac known as the phagosome. This is then fused with the lysosomes, which contains digestive enzymes known as lysozymes that are released into the phagosome, killing the microbes.

Answered by Atousa K. Biology tutor

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