Phagosome

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A phagosome is a vesicle that forms within a phagocyte. It contains a foreign particle that has been captured by phagocytosis.

A phagosome is formed when:

• A phagocyte engulfs a particle
• The phagocyte's cell membrane surrounds the particle
• The phagocyte pinches off the particle as a vesicle

Phagocytosis is the process of a cell taking in relatively large particles. It is a central mechanism in:

• Tissue remodeling
• Inflammation
• Defense against infectious agents

The function of the phagosome is to degrade biological material. This can include:

• Ridding the body of dead cell debris without inducing an immune response
• Generating epitopes from internalized pathogens for recognition by T cells

Some professional phagocytes include:

Macrophages, Neutrophils, Dendritic cells, Monocytes, Osteoclasts, Eosinophils.