How does phagocytosis work?

The phagocyte will be attracted to a pathogen and move to it via chemotaxis. The phagocyte then engulfs the pathogen. Once the pathogen is inside the phagocyte, it is enclosed in a phagosome (essentially a bubble to contain the pathogen). The phagosome then fuses with a lysosome, becoming a phagolysosome. The lysosome releases its enzymes, lysozymes, which break down the pathogen. The waste products are then absorbed by phagocyte so they are no longer harmful to the body.

Answered by Catherine W. Biology tutor

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