Chapter 31 Assessment of Immune Function
1. A woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is being treated aggressively
with a chemotherapeutic regimen. As a result of this regimen, she has an inability to fight
infection due to the fact that her bone marrow is unable to produce a sufficient amount of
what?
A) Lymphocytes
B) Cytoblasts
C) Antibodies D) Capillaries Ans: A Feedback:
The white blood cells involved in immunity (including lymphocytes) are produced in the bone
marrow. Cytoblasts are the protoplasm of the cell outside the nucleus. Antibodies are
produced by lymphocytes, but not in the bone marrow. Capillaries are small blood vessels
2. During a mumps outbreak at a local school, a patient, who is a school teacher, is
exposed. She has previously been immunized for mumps. What type of
immunity does she possess?
A) Acquired immunity
B) Natural immunity
C) Phagocytic immunity
D) Humoral immunity
Ans: A
Feedback:
Acquired immunity usually develops as a result of prior exposure to an antigen, often
through immunization. When the body is attacked by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, it
has three means of defense. The first line of defense, the phagocytic immune response,
involves the WBCs that have the ability to ingest foreign particles. A second protective
response is the humoral immune response, which begins when the B lymphocytes transform
themselves into plasma cells that manufacture antibodies. The natural immune response
system is rapid, nonspecific immunity present at birth.
3. A gardener sustained a deep laceration while working and requires sutures. The
patient is asked about the date of her last tetanus shot, which is over 10 years ago. Based on
this information, the patient will receive a tetanus immunization. The tetanus injection will
allow for the release of what?
A) Antibodies B) Antigens C) Cytokines
D) Phagocytes
Ans: A
Feedback:
Immunizations activate the humoral immune response, culminating in antibody production.
Antigens are the substances that induce the production of antibodies. Immunizations do not
prompt cytokine or phagocyte production.
,4. An infection control nurse is presenting an inservice reviewing the immune response.
The nurse describes the clumping effect that occurs when an antibody acts like a cross- link
between two antigens. What process is the nurse explaining?
A) Agglutination
B) Cellular immune response
C) Humoral response
D) Phagocytic immune response
Ans: A
Feedback:
Agglutination refers to the clumping effect occurring when an antibody acts as a cross- link
between two antigens. This takes place within the context of the humoral immune response,
but is not synonymous with it. Cellular immune response, the immune system's third line of
defense, involves the attack of pathogens by T-cells. The phagocytic immune response, or
immune response, is the system's first line of defense, involving white blood cells that have
the ability to ingest foreign particles.
5. A nurse has administered a child's scheduled vaccination for rubella. This vaccination
will cause the child to develop which of the following?
A) Natural immunity
B) Active acquired immunity
C) Cellular immunity
D) Mild hypersensitivity
Ans: B
Feedback:
Active acquired immunity usually develops as a result of vaccination or contracting a disease.
Natural immunity is present at birth and provides a nonspecific response to any foreign
invader. Immunizations do not activate the process of cellular immunity. Hypersensitivity is
not an expected outcome of immunization.
, 6. A patient with a history of dermatitis takes corticosteroids on a regular basis. The
nurse should assess the patient for which of the following complications of therapy?
A) Immunosuppression
B) Agranulocytosis
C) Anemia
D) Thrombocytopenia
Ans: A
Feedback:
Corticosteroids such as prednisone can cause immunosuppression. Corticosteroids do not
typically cause agranulocytosis, anemia, or low platelet counts.
7. A nurse is planning the assessment of a patient who is exhibiting signs and symptoms
of an autoimmune disorder. The nurse should be aware that the incidence and prevalence of
autoimmune diseases is known to be higher among what group?
A) Young adults
B) Native Americans
C) Women
D) Hispanics Ans: C Feedback:
Many autoimmune diseases have a higher incidence in females than in males, a
phenomenon believed to be correlated with sex hormones.
8. A 16-year-old has been brought to the emergency department by his parents after
falling through the glass of a patio door, suffering a laceration. The nurse caring for this
patient knows that the site of the injury will have an invasion of what?
A) Interferons
B) Phagocytic cells
C) Apoptosis D) Cytokines Ans: B Feedback:
Monocytes migrate to injury sites and function as phagocytic cells, engulfing, ingesting, and
destroying greater numbers and quantities of foreign bodies or toxins than granulocytes. This
occurs in response to the foreign bodies that have invaded the laceration from the dirt on the
broken glass. Interferon, one type of biologic response modifier, is a nonspecific viricidal
protein that is naturally produced by the body and is capable of activating other components
of the immune system. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is the body's way of destroying
1. A woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is being treated aggressively
with a chemotherapeutic regimen. As a result of this regimen, she has an inability to fight
infection due to the fact that her bone marrow is unable to produce a sufficient amount of
what?
A) Lymphocytes
B) Cytoblasts
C) Antibodies D) Capillaries Ans: A Feedback:
The white blood cells involved in immunity (including lymphocytes) are produced in the bone
marrow. Cytoblasts are the protoplasm of the cell outside the nucleus. Antibodies are
produced by lymphocytes, but not in the bone marrow. Capillaries are small blood vessels
2. During a mumps outbreak at a local school, a patient, who is a school teacher, is
exposed. She has previously been immunized for mumps. What type of
immunity does she possess?
A) Acquired immunity
B) Natural immunity
C) Phagocytic immunity
D) Humoral immunity
Ans: A
Feedback:
Acquired immunity usually develops as a result of prior exposure to an antigen, often
through immunization. When the body is attacked by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, it
has three means of defense. The first line of defense, the phagocytic immune response,
involves the WBCs that have the ability to ingest foreign particles. A second protective
response is the humoral immune response, which begins when the B lymphocytes transform
themselves into plasma cells that manufacture antibodies. The natural immune response
system is rapid, nonspecific immunity present at birth.
3. A gardener sustained a deep laceration while working and requires sutures. The
patient is asked about the date of her last tetanus shot, which is over 10 years ago. Based on
this information, the patient will receive a tetanus immunization. The tetanus injection will
allow for the release of what?
A) Antibodies B) Antigens C) Cytokines
D) Phagocytes
Ans: A
Feedback:
Immunizations activate the humoral immune response, culminating in antibody production.
Antigens are the substances that induce the production of antibodies. Immunizations do not
prompt cytokine or phagocyte production.
,4. An infection control nurse is presenting an inservice reviewing the immune response.
The nurse describes the clumping effect that occurs when an antibody acts like a cross- link
between two antigens. What process is the nurse explaining?
A) Agglutination
B) Cellular immune response
C) Humoral response
D) Phagocytic immune response
Ans: A
Feedback:
Agglutination refers to the clumping effect occurring when an antibody acts as a cross- link
between two antigens. This takes place within the context of the humoral immune response,
but is not synonymous with it. Cellular immune response, the immune system's third line of
defense, involves the attack of pathogens by T-cells. The phagocytic immune response, or
immune response, is the system's first line of defense, involving white blood cells that have
the ability to ingest foreign particles.
5. A nurse has administered a child's scheduled vaccination for rubella. This vaccination
will cause the child to develop which of the following?
A) Natural immunity
B) Active acquired immunity
C) Cellular immunity
D) Mild hypersensitivity
Ans: B
Feedback:
Active acquired immunity usually develops as a result of vaccination or contracting a disease.
Natural immunity is present at birth and provides a nonspecific response to any foreign
invader. Immunizations do not activate the process of cellular immunity. Hypersensitivity is
not an expected outcome of immunization.
, 6. A patient with a history of dermatitis takes corticosteroids on a regular basis. The
nurse should assess the patient for which of the following complications of therapy?
A) Immunosuppression
B) Agranulocytosis
C) Anemia
D) Thrombocytopenia
Ans: A
Feedback:
Corticosteroids such as prednisone can cause immunosuppression. Corticosteroids do not
typically cause agranulocytosis, anemia, or low platelet counts.
7. A nurse is planning the assessment of a patient who is exhibiting signs and symptoms
of an autoimmune disorder. The nurse should be aware that the incidence and prevalence of
autoimmune diseases is known to be higher among what group?
A) Young adults
B) Native Americans
C) Women
D) Hispanics Ans: C Feedback:
Many autoimmune diseases have a higher incidence in females than in males, a
phenomenon believed to be correlated with sex hormones.
8. A 16-year-old has been brought to the emergency department by his parents after
falling through the glass of a patio door, suffering a laceration. The nurse caring for this
patient knows that the site of the injury will have an invasion of what?
A) Interferons
B) Phagocytic cells
C) Apoptosis D) Cytokines Ans: B Feedback:
Monocytes migrate to injury sites and function as phagocytic cells, engulfing, ingesting, and
destroying greater numbers and quantities of foreign bodies or toxins than granulocytes. This
occurs in response to the foreign bodies that have invaded the laceration from the dirt on the
broken glass. Interferon, one type of biologic response modifier, is a nonspecific viricidal
protein that is naturally produced by the body and is capable of activating other components
of the immune system. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is the body's way of destroying
