Why is phagocytosis important to a cell?
Phagocytosis is the engulfing of extracellular particles into the cell, which then become surrounded by a vesicle. It is important in some cells, such as unicellular organisms, as a mechanism of intracellular digestion. When this vesicle fuses with a lysosome, hydrolytic enzymes from the lysosome break apart the engulfed material into a form the cell can use. Another example of the benefits of phagocytosis can be seen in the human immune system. For instance, macrophages are an important phagocytic white blood cell that helps to defend the body by engulfing foreign pathogens, such as bacteria. By doing this, macrophages are capable of initiating an immune response where antibodies are produced to help defend the body against the pathogen.
