phagocytic
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Capable of functioning as a phagocyte: Describes a cell or organism that has the ability to ingest and destroy foreign particles, bacteria, or other cells through the process of phagocytosis.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Macrophages are highly phagocytic cells that patrol the body for pathogens.
- The immune response relies on phagocytic activity to clear infections.
Advanced Usage
- "Phagocytic activity": Refers to the rate or effectiveness at which a cell or organism performs phagocytosis.
- The patient's blood test showed reduced phagocytic activity.
- "Phagocytic receptor": A specific molecule on the surface of a phagocytic cell that recognizes and binds to targets for ingestion.
- The antibody binds to the antigen, marking it for destruction by phagocytic receptors.
Variants and Related Words
- Phagocyte (noun): A type of cell, such as a macrophage or neutrophil, that is capable of phagocytosis.
- Neutrophils are the most abundant type of phagocyte in human blood.
- Phagocytosis (noun): The process by which a cell engulfs a solid particle.
- Phagocytosis is a crucial mechanism of the innate immune system.
Synonyms
- Engulfing
- Ingestive (in a biological context)
Related Phrases
- Phagocytic index: A measurement of phagocytic capacity.
- The phagocytic index is used to assess immune function in clinical studies.
- Phagocytic vacuole: The vesicle formed around an ingested particle inside a phagocytic cell.
- After engulfment, the bacterium is enclosed within a phagocytic vacuole.
Adjective
- capable of functioning as a phagocyte