Coelomocyte


A coelomocyte is a phagocytic leukocyte that appears in the bodies of animals that have a coelom. In most, it attacks and digests invading organisms such as bacteria and viruses through encapsulation and phagocytosis, though in some animals it does not seem capable of the phagocytosis. A coelomocyte may either be fixed to the body wall or may be free-floating within the coelom.
The word comes from the Ancient Greek koílōma, "cavity" or "hollow", and kýtos, "receptacle" or "container".