macrophage

What are macrophages?

Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in protecting the body from infection and in keeping tissues healthy. Their name comes from Greek words meaning “big eaters,” because they can surround, swallow, and digest harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses, and dead cells — a process called phagocytosis. Macrophages …
Read More »

Foamy histiocytes

Histiocytes are a type of immune cell. They help the body heal after an injury or infection by removing dead cells, blood, micro-organisms (such as bacteria and fungus), and foreign material from the body. Foamy is a term pathologists use to describe histiocytes that are full of waste removed from the surrounding tissue. Pathologists commonly …
Read More »

A+ A A-