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phagocytolysis

1. Destruction of phagocytes, or leukocytes, occurring in the process of blood coagulation or as the result of the introduction of certain antagonistic foreign substances into the body.

Synonym: phagolysis.

2. A spontaneous breaking down of the phagocytes, preliminary (according to metchnikoff) to the liberation of cytase, or complement.

Origin: phagocyte _ G. Lysis, dissolution