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Multiple Choice
Which of the following cells can engulf a pathogen?
A
Erythrocytes
B
T cells
C
B cells
D
Macrophages
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of macrophages in the immune system. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the body's defense mechanism by engulfing and digesting pathogens and cellular debris.
Recognize the process of phagocytosis. Macrophages use phagocytosis to engulf pathogens. This involves the macrophage surrounding the pathogen with its cell membrane and forming a vesicle known as a phagosome.
Differentiate between the types of cells listed. Erythrocytes are red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen, not for engulfing pathogens. T cells and B cells are lymphocytes involved in adaptive immunity, but they do not engulf pathogens directly.
Identify the function of T cells and B cells. T cells help regulate immune responses and can kill infected cells, while B cells produce antibodies to neutralize pathogens. Neither performs phagocytosis.
Conclude that macrophages are the correct answer. They are specialized for engulfing and digesting pathogens, unlike erythrocytes, T cells, and B cells.