What is the structure formed by the fusion of engulfed material with enzymatic granules within a phagocytic cell?

What is the structure formed by the fusion of engulfed material with enzymatic granules within a phagocytic cell?

• A. Phagosome
• B. Lysosome
• C. Vacuole
• D. Phagolysosome

Answer: (D)

When a phagocyte digests engulfed material, the vesicle that initially contains it is called a phagosome. The lysosomes, which house the cell’s hydrolytic enzymes, fuse with this phagosome to form a phagolysosome. Inside this fused compartment, the acidic environment and enzymes break down the ingested material, allowing digestion and destruction of the pathogen or debris. Therefore, the structure described is the phagolysosome—the site where engulfed material and enzymatic granules combine to start digestion. A phagosome alone is the pre-fusion vesicle, a lysosome is the enzyme-containing organelle, and a vacuole is a more general term for a membrane-bound compartment.

When a phagocyte digests engulfed material, the vesicle that initially contains it is called a phagosome. The lysosomes, which house the cell’s hydrolytic enzymes, fuse with this phagosome to form a phagolysosome. Inside this fused compartment, the acidic environment and enzymes break down the ingested material, allowing digestion and destruction of the pathogen or debris. Therefore, the structure described is the phagolysosome—the site where engulfed material and enzymatic granules combine to start digestion. A phagosome alone is the pre-fusion vesicle, a lysosome is the enzyme-containing organelle, and a vacuole is a more general term for a membrane-bound compartment.