Phagocyte Professional phagocyte
Phagocytes of humans and other animals are called professional or non-professional, depending on how good they are at phagocytosis. The professional phagocytes are neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and mast cells. Robinson p. 187 and Ernst pp. The reason they are called professional phagocytes is because they have receptors on their surfaces that can detect harmful objects, such as bacteria. Phagocytes are very important in fighting infections and in getting rid of dead and dying cells.