Describe the process of phagocytosis

The phagocyte comes into contact with pathogen and phagocytic receptors detect the pathogen as 'non-self'. The phagocyte then binds to pathogen and engulfs the pathogen by the process of endocytosis. This creates a vesicle called a phagosome. Within the phagocyte there is a specialised vesicle called a lysosome which contains enzymes to break down the pathogen. The phagosome fuses with the lysosome to form a phagolysosome, and the pathogen is broken down. The soluble debris is expelled by exocytosis.