What term refers to the process of a cell eating itself to dispose of nonfunctional organelles?

The process described in the question, where a cell consumes its own nonfunctional organelles to maintain cellular health and function, is known as autophagy. This is a crucial cellular process that allows cells to degrade and recycle components, promoting homeostasis and preventing the accumulation of damaged or malfunctioning structures.

Autophagy serves several important functions, including providing energy and building blocks for cellular repair, especially under stress or starvation conditions. It helps in maintaining cellular quality control by removing damaged organelles, such as dysfunctional mitochondria, thereby preventing potential harm to the cell.

The other terms relate to different processes: apoptosis is a regulated form of programmed cell death that helps eliminate unwanted cells, phagocytosis involves the engulfing of large particles or microorganisms by immune cells, and necrosis refers to uncontrolled cell death due to injury or lack of blood supply, leading to inflammation. In contrast, autophagy is a protective mechanism and part of normal cell maintenance, distinguishing it from these other processes.