Final answer:
Cells such as neutrophils and macrophages perform phagocytosis to engulf and digest large particles, a crucial part of the immune system's response to pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
By performing phagocytosis, cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and certain liver cells can engulf and digest large particles. Phagocytes like macrophages and neutrophils are essential to the immune system for engulfing and destroying pathogens through phagocytosis. This process occurs when the phagocyte extends pseudopodia to capture the pathogen into a phagosome, which then fuses with a lysosome.
The contained pathogen is subsequently destroyed by hydrolytic enzymes. While this process effectively kills many pathogens, some bacteria such as Mycobacteria tuberculosis are resistant to these enzymes. In addition to macrophages and neutrophils, dendritic cells are also prominent phagocytes. Furthermore, neutrophils can release chemicals that break apart pathogens, contributing to their role in the immune response.