macrophage

Definition

A type of white blood cell that detects and destroys pathogens or removes cellular debris as part of the immune system.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek 'makros' (large) and 'phagein' (to eat). It was coined in the late 19th century to describe these 'large-eating' cells that consume foreign particles in the body.

In the news

The term appears in a sidebar headline discussing how scientists are studying biological aging processes within these immune cells. It serves as an example of ongoing specialized medical research unrelated to the main article on loneliness.

Loneliness strongly linked to poorer mental health and well-being, study finds

Medical Xpress

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