What is Phagocyte?
[[File:Neutrophil with anthrax copy.jpg|right|thumb|[[Scanning electron microscope|Scanning electron micrograph]] of a phagocyte (yellow: [[neutrophil]]) engulfing some bacteria (orange: [[Anthrax (disease)|anthrax bacilli]])]] '''Phagocytes''' are the [[white blood cell]]s that protect the body by eating (phagocytosing) [[bacteria]] and dead or [[Apoptosis|dying]] cells. They are important for fighting [[infection]]s. They are also important for becoming [[Immunology|immune]].<ref name=USC>{{cite web| last = Mayer| first = Gene|title=Immunology&nbsp;— Chapter One: Innate (non-specific) Immunity| work = Microbiology and Immunology On-Line Textbook| publisher = USC School of Medicine| year = 2006|url=http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/ghaffar/innate.htm| accessdate = November 12, 2008}}</ref> Phagocytes are present in all animals and are very complex in vertebrates.<ref name=Delves>Delves P.J. ''et al'' 2006. ''Roitt's essential immunology''. 11th ed, Malden, MA: Blackwell, p. 250/1. {{ISBN|1-4051-3603-0}}</ref> One [[liter]] of human blood has about six [[billion]] phagocytes.<ref name=Hoff-values>Hoffbrand A.V; Pettit J.E. & Moss P.A.H. 2005. ''Essential haematology''. 4th ed, London: Blackwell, p. 331. {{ISBN|0-632-05153-1}}</ref> == History == Their name comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''phagein'', 'to eat or devour ', and ''kutos'', 'hollow vessel'.<ref name=ox>{{cite book| title=The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary| publisher=Oxford University Press| date=1983|pages=1566–67}}</ref> Phagocytes were first seen in 1882 by [[Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov]].<ref name= Ilya>[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1908/mechnikov-bio.html Ilya Mechnikov], retrieved on November 28, 2008. From [http://nobelprize.org/nobelfoundation/publications/lectures/index.html Nobel Lectures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822041214/http://nobelprize.org/nobelfoundation/publications/lectures/index.html |date=2008-08-22 }}, ''Physiology or Medicine 1901–1921'', Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam,