A cell of the immune system, such as a neutrophil, macrophage or dendritic cell, that engulfs and destroys viruses, bacteria and waste materials, or in the case of mature dendritic cells; displays antigens from invading pathogens to cells of the lymphoid lineage
A cell that is able to engulf and break down foreign particles, cell debris and disease producing micro-organisms in the body Form an important part of the natural defence mechanism in most animals
a white blood cell that engulfs and distroys foreign organisms and debris in the blood
A cell that can engulf particles such as bacteria, other microorganisms, aged red blood cells, foreign matter, etc
a cell (as a white blood cell) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (as microorganisms) and debris
a general class of white blood cells that ingest microbes or other cells and foreign particles Monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils are types of phagocytes
Cells that readily eat (ingest) microorganisms like bacteria or fungi and can kill them as a means of protecting the body against infection The two principal phagocytes are neutrophils and monocytes They emigrate out of the blood and into tissues in which an infection has developed A severe decrease in the blood level of these cells is the principal cause of susceptibility to infection in patients treated with intensive radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy The latter treatments suppress blood cell production in the marrow resulting in deficiencies of these phagocytic cells