Overview of Phagocytosis and the Immune System

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to phagocytosis and the immune system as discussed in the lecture.

Phagosome

A membrane-bound vesicle that contains the sequestered pathogen during phagocytosis.

Lysosome

A cellular organelle that contains hydrolytic enzymes for breaking down waste materials and cellular debris.

Hydrolytic enzymes

Enzymes within the lysosome that are responsible for breaking down materials that are no longer needed by the cell.

Phagolysosome

The structure formed when a lysosome fuses with a phagosome, allowing hydrolytic enzymes to act on the sequestered pathogen.

Macrophage

A type of immune cell that engulfs and destroys pathogens and debris in the body.

Exocytosis

The process by which cells expel materials contained in vesicles, such as recycling waste materials from macrophages.

Adaptive immune system

The part of the immune system that adapts to specific pathogens, creating antibodies and memory cells after exposure.

Antibody

A protein produced by B cells that binds specifically to antigens to help eliminate pathogens.

Antigen

A molecule or part of a molecule from a pathogen that is recognized by the immune system, leading to an immune response.

Memory cells

Long-lived immune cells that remember specific antigens and can rapidly produce antibodies upon re-exposure to the same pathogen.

Cytotoxic T cells

A type of T cell that directly kills infected cells or pathogens.

Helper T cells

A type of T cell that aids in activating B cells and other immune cells by presenting antigens from pathogens.

MHC proteins

Major histocompatibility complex proteins that present antigens on the surface of macrophages to T cells for recognition.