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A phagocyte is a cell that ingests and destroys foreign matter such as microorganisms or debris via a process known as phagocytosis, in which these cells ingest and kill offending cells by a process analogous to cellular digestion, usually using lysosomes which carry potent enzymes that digests cell components such as other lipids or proteins. These phagocytes are extremely useful as an initial immune system response to tissue damage.
The word 'phagocyte' literally , originating from the Greek word 'phagein', meaning 'eat'.
Phagocytes are also involved in cell death, usually programmed cell death through apoptosis, in which they are responsible for cleaning up the debris and effectively "recycling" the dead cell parts. They are also capable of cleaning up the cell debris from necrosis, but this is a less orderly process than apoptosis: cells which undergo necrosis do not transmit the proper signals that alert phagocytes to a dying cell, and the resulting disorder makes it more difficult to pick up debris, and the cleanup is less effective.
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