Phagocytosis

In cell biology, phagocytosis (fromAncient Greek φαγεῖν (phagein), meaning "to devour", κύτος, (kytos), meaning "cell",and -osis, meaning "process") is the process by which a cell—often a phagocyte or a protist—engulfs a solid particle to form an internal vesicle known as a phagosome. Phagocytosis was first noted by Canadian physician William Osler, and later studied by Élie Metchnikoff.