Macrophages are the immune system’s giant eaters — always hungry and ready to swallow anything that doesn’t belong in the body. Their name comes from Greek: “macro” = big, “phage” = eater.
🔹 Origin:
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Born in the bone marrow 🦴 as monocytes
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Mature into macrophages when they enter body tissues
🔹 Role in the Immune System:
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Phagocytosis: Engulf and digest bacteria 🦠, dead cells, and debris 🧹
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Signal callers: Release chemicals to attract other immune cells 🚨
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Antigen presenters: Display pieces of invaders (antigens) to T-cells 🎭, starting an adaptive immune response
🔹 Why They’re Important:
Macrophages act like the clean-up crew and first responders — removing trash, fighting germs, and calling reinforcements when things get serious. Without them, infections and waste would overwhelm the body.
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