Final answer:
The second line of defense characteristic related to cellular response and ingestion of microorganisms is phagocytosis by white blood cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic of the second line of defense related to cellular response and the ingestion of microorganisms or particulate matter is C. Phagocytosis by white blood cells. This is an innate immune response that involves white blood cells, such as macrophages and neutrophils, which engulf and destroy pathogens that manage to bypass the first line of defense. This phagocytic activity is a key aspect of the body's ability to fight infections nonspecifically, without having to recognize the pathogen from previous encounters.