∞ generated and posted on 2016.08.26 ∞
Means of uptake of extracellular materials into cytoplasm-surrounded vesicles that is followed ideally by digestion of that material.
Phagocytosis is a function of certain immune-system cells as well as the primary means of nutrient acquisition by many protozoa as well as sponges.
Figure legend: Depiction of phagocytosis. Membrane refers to the plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane. The space to the left of the plasma membrane is the cytoplasm, i.e., that which is intracellular. Note in the phagocytosis process the surrounding of a particle, here a bacterium, by plasma membrane, which then fuses around the particle, resulting in its internalization within what can be described variously as an endocytic vesicle or phagosome. The phagosome then fuses with one or more lysosomes to form what can be described as a phagolysosome.
The following video discusses neutrophil functioning including terms of phagocytosis:
The following video is a pretty spectacular light microscopy movie of a neutrophil chasing and then engulfing bacteria:
Video (Macrophage phagocytosis… Is this really how it works?)