Rutgers Anatomy & Physiology II Practice Exam 2026 - Complete Study Guide

Neutrophils play a crucial role in the immune system primarily through the process of phagocytosis, which involves the ingestion and destruction of pathogens, particularly bacteria. These cells are among the first responders to sites of infection or injury, acting rapidly to eliminate invading microorganisms.

When neutrophils encounter bacteria, they engulf these pathogens, forming a vesicle that fuses with lysosomes containing enzymes and reactive oxygen species designed to kill and digest the engulfed microbes. This process is vital for controlling infections and serves as a key component of the innate immune response.

In contrast, creating antibodies is primarily the function of B-cells, producing histamines is associated with mast cells in allergic responses, and activating T-cells is mostly the role of antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells. Each of these functions is important in the broader context of the immune response, but they do not delineate the primary function of neutrophils, which is centered on direct phagocytosis of bacteria.