Question

Within a lymph node, what cells engulf and destroy bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances in the lymph?

A) trabeculae
B) macrophages
C) follicles
D) erythrocytes
E) lymphocytes

Answer 1

B) macrophages

Macrophages and dendritic cells within lymph nodes perform phagocytosis to engulf and destroy foreign substances in the lymph.

Step-by-step explanation:

Within a lymph node, the cells that engulf and destroy bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances in the lymph are known as macrophages and dendritic cells. These cells perform a critical function known as phagocytosis, where they internalize and kill many of the pathogens that pass through the lymph, thus removing them from the body. Macrophages are additionally found in various tissues and can present antigens to T cells to enhance the body's immune response.