Bacteria and other foreign particles that enter the body can be made harmless by
A) phagocytosis by white blood cells.
B) pinocytosis, which dissolves the foreign material.
C) active transport of the foreign particles by a membrane pump.
D) exocytosis through vesicles that fuse with the cell membrane.
E) specific receptors that mediate their entry into a cell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phagocytosis is the process by which white blood cells engulf and digest foreign particles, including bacteria. This is an important defense mechanism of the immune system. Pinocytosis and active transport are not typically used to make foreign particles harmless, and exocytosis is a process by which cells release substances, not take them in. While specific receptors may mediate the entry of foreign particles into a cell, they do not make them harmless.

Bacteria and Other Foreign Particles That Enter the Body Can