What term is used to describe the chemical attraction of certain cells to an area of invasion?

Chemotaxis is the term used to describe the movement of an organism or a cell in response to a chemical stimulus. In the context of certain cells being drawn to an area of invasion, such as in an immune response to infection or tissue injury, chemotaxis refers to the way immune cells like leukocytes are attracted to specific chemical signals released by pathogens or damaged tissue. This process is critical in mounting an effective immune response, as it ensures that the right type and number of cells are directed to the site requiring attention.

The term encapsulates both the movement towards the chemical signals and the underlying mechanism whereby cells sense and respond to these attractants. Understanding chemotaxis is fundamental in fields like pathology and immunology, particularly in understanding how inflammatory responses are coordinated within the body.