The process by which immune cells engulf and remove debris is known as?

The process by which immune cells engulf and remove debris is known as?

• A. Phagocytosis
• B. Leukocyte migration
• C. Permeability changes
• D. Ultrastructural changes

Answer: (A)

Phagocytosis is the process by which immune cells engulf and remove debris. Phagocytes such as macrophages and neutrophils recognize and bind to debris, enclose it within a membrane to form a phagosome, then fuse that phagosome with a lysosome to create a phagolysosome where enzymes digest the material. This cleanup mechanism is central to innate immunity and tissue repair after inflammation. The other terms describe different aspects of inflammation: leukocyte migration is the movement of white blood cells toward signals to reach the site, permeability changes refer to the blood vessels becoming more permeable to allow entry of cells and fluids, and ultrastructural changes involve changes in cell structure, not the actual engulfment and digestion of debris.

Phagocytosis is the process by which immune cells engulf and remove debris. Phagocytes such as macrophages and neutrophils recognize and bind to debris, enclose it within a membrane to form a phagosome, then fuse that phagosome with a lysosome to create a phagolysosome where enzymes digest the material. This cleanup mechanism is central to innate immunity and tissue repair after inflammation. The other terms describe different aspects of inflammation: leukocyte migration is the movement of white blood cells toward signals to reach the site, permeability changes refer to the blood vessels becoming more permeable to allow entry of cells and fluids, and ultrastructural changes involve changes in cell structure, not the actual engulfment and digestion of debris.