NR 507 Advanced Pathophysiology Week 1
Exam: Immune Response and
Hypersensitivity 100 Questions with
Answers and Rationales
SECTION A: Innate and Adaptive Immunity (Questions 1-20)
1. The first line of defense in the innate immune system
includes:
A) Antibodies and T cells
B) Skin and mucous membranes
C) Complement proteins
D) Memory B cells
Correct Answer: B) Skin and mucous membranes
Expert Rationale: The innate immune system includes physical and
chemical barriers. The skin (with its stratified squamous epithelium
and keratinization) and mucous membranes (lining the respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts) serve as the first line of
defense against pathogens. These barriers prevent entry of
microorganisms .
2. Which of the following is a characteristic of the innate
immune system?
,A) Specificity and memory
B) Nonspecific response and no memory
C) Production of antibodies
D) Requires prior exposure
Correct Answer: B) Nonspecific response and no memory
Expert Rationale: Innate immunity is a nonspecific defense that
responds immediately to pathogens without prior exposure. It does
not have memory, meaning that the response to a pathogen is the
same with each exposure. Adaptive immunity, in contrast, is specific
and has memory .
3. The primary cells of the innate immune system include:
A) B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
B) Neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells
C) Plasma cells and memory cells
D) Erythrocytes and platelets
Correct Answer: B) Neutrophils, macrophages, and natural
killer cells
Expert Rationale: The innate immune system includes phagocytes
(neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells), natural killer (NK) cells,
and mast cells. Lymphocytes (B and T cells) are part of the adaptive
immune system, not the innate system .
4. Adaptive immunity is characterized by:
,A) Rapid response and no memory
B) Specificity and immunological memory
C) Physical barriers only
D) The same response for all pathogens
Correct Answer: B) Specificity and immunological memory
Expert Rationale: Adaptive immunity is characterized by specificity
for particular antigens and immunological memory. Upon first
exposure, the adaptive immune response is slow (primary
response), but subsequent exposures generate a faster, stronger,
and more sustained response (secondary response) .
5. Which of the following cells is responsible for producing
antibodies?
A) T lymphocytes
B) Natural killer cells
C) Plasma cells (differentiated B cells)
D) Macrophages
Correct Answer: C) Plasma cells (differentiated B cells)
Expert Rationale: Plasma cells are differentiated B cells that
produce large quantities of antibodies (immunoglobulins). B cells
mature in the bone marrow and, upon activation by an antigen and
helper T cells, differentiate into plasma cells that secrete antibodies
specific to the antigen .
6. Which of the following is an antigen-presenting cell (APC)?
, A) Neutrophil
B) Dendritic cell
C) Natural killer cell
D) Eosinophil
Correct Answer: B) Dendritic cell
Expert Rationale: Dendritic cells are the most potent antigen-
presenting cells (APCs). They capture, process, and present antigens
to T cells, initiating the adaptive immune response. Macrophages
and B cells also function as APCs .
7. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules
are found on:
A) All nucleated cells
B) Only antigen-presenting cells
C) Only B cells
D) Only red blood cells
Correct Answer: A) All nucleated cells
Expert Rationale: MHC class I molecules are expressed on all
nucleated cells in the body. They present endogenous (intracellular)
antigens (such as viral proteins) to CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. MHC
class II molecules are found only on APCs (dendritic cells,
macrophages, B cells) .
8. CD8+ T cells recognize antigens presented on:
Exam: Immune Response and
Hypersensitivity 100 Questions with
Answers and Rationales
SECTION A: Innate and Adaptive Immunity (Questions 1-20)
1. The first line of defense in the innate immune system
includes:
A) Antibodies and T cells
B) Skin and mucous membranes
C) Complement proteins
D) Memory B cells
Correct Answer: B) Skin and mucous membranes
Expert Rationale: The innate immune system includes physical and
chemical barriers. The skin (with its stratified squamous epithelium
and keratinization) and mucous membranes (lining the respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts) serve as the first line of
defense against pathogens. These barriers prevent entry of
microorganisms .
2. Which of the following is a characteristic of the innate
immune system?
,A) Specificity and memory
B) Nonspecific response and no memory
C) Production of antibodies
D) Requires prior exposure
Correct Answer: B) Nonspecific response and no memory
Expert Rationale: Innate immunity is a nonspecific defense that
responds immediately to pathogens without prior exposure. It does
not have memory, meaning that the response to a pathogen is the
same with each exposure. Adaptive immunity, in contrast, is specific
and has memory .
3. The primary cells of the innate immune system include:
A) B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
B) Neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells
C) Plasma cells and memory cells
D) Erythrocytes and platelets
Correct Answer: B) Neutrophils, macrophages, and natural
killer cells
Expert Rationale: The innate immune system includes phagocytes
(neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells), natural killer (NK) cells,
and mast cells. Lymphocytes (B and T cells) are part of the adaptive
immune system, not the innate system .
4. Adaptive immunity is characterized by:
,A) Rapid response and no memory
B) Specificity and immunological memory
C) Physical barriers only
D) The same response for all pathogens
Correct Answer: B) Specificity and immunological memory
Expert Rationale: Adaptive immunity is characterized by specificity
for particular antigens and immunological memory. Upon first
exposure, the adaptive immune response is slow (primary
response), but subsequent exposures generate a faster, stronger,
and more sustained response (secondary response) .
5. Which of the following cells is responsible for producing
antibodies?
A) T lymphocytes
B) Natural killer cells
C) Plasma cells (differentiated B cells)
D) Macrophages
Correct Answer: C) Plasma cells (differentiated B cells)
Expert Rationale: Plasma cells are differentiated B cells that
produce large quantities of antibodies (immunoglobulins). B cells
mature in the bone marrow and, upon activation by an antigen and
helper T cells, differentiate into plasma cells that secrete antibodies
specific to the antigen .
6. Which of the following is an antigen-presenting cell (APC)?
, A) Neutrophil
B) Dendritic cell
C) Natural killer cell
D) Eosinophil
Correct Answer: B) Dendritic cell
Expert Rationale: Dendritic cells are the most potent antigen-
presenting cells (APCs). They capture, process, and present antigens
to T cells, initiating the adaptive immune response. Macrophages
and B cells also function as APCs .
7. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules
are found on:
A) All nucleated cells
B) Only antigen-presenting cells
C) Only B cells
D) Only red blood cells
Correct Answer: A) All nucleated cells
Expert Rationale: MHC class I molecules are expressed on all
nucleated cells in the body. They present endogenous (intracellular)
antigens (such as viral proteins) to CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. MHC
class II molecules are found only on APCs (dendritic cells,
macrophages, B cells) .
8. CD8+ T cells recognize antigens presented on:
