,BIOL331/BIOL 331 Pathophysiology Module 3
Exam | Portage Learning |Q&A | 26/27 Edition
(PDF)
1. Which type of immunity is present at birth and provides the first line of defense against pathogens?
A) Adaptive immunity
B) Innate immunity
C) Passive immunity
D) Humoral immunity
Correct Answer: Innate immunity
Rationale: Innate immunity is the non-specific, first-line defense that is present at birth and includes
physical barriers (skin), chemical barriers, and cellular components like phagocytes. Adaptive immunity
develops over time in response to specific antigens. Passive immunity is acquired from another source,
and humoral immunity involves antibodies.
2. What is the primary function of the skin's physical barrier in innate immunity?
A) Producing antibodies
B) Activating T cells
C) Preventing microbial invasion
D) Generating immunological memory
Correct Answer: Preventing microbial invasion
Rationale: The skin acts as the body's primary physical barrier, with multiple layers of tightly packed
epithelial cells, particularly keratinocytes, that prevent microbial invasion. The outermost layer, the
stratum corneum, consists of dead keratinized cells that are continuously shed, physically removing
adherent microorganisms.
3. Which cells are the primary phagocytes that arrive early to the site of injury during inflammation?
,A) Macrophages
B) Neutrophils
C) Lymphocytes
D) Mast cells
Correct Answer: Neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary phagocytes that arrive early to the injury site and are the most
abundant type of white blood cells in the inflammatory response. Macrophages arrive later and are also
phagocytic, lymphocytes are involved in adaptive immunity, and mast cells release histamine.
4. What is the role of platelets in the inflammatory process?
A) Producing antibodies
B) Releasing histamine
C) Releasing inflammatory mediators to increase vascular permeability
D) Activating complement
Correct Answer: Releasing inflammatory mediators to increase vascular permeability
Rationale: Platelets release inflammatory mediators that increase vascular permeability and alter
endothelial cell properties, including adhesive, chemotactic, and proteolytic functions. This helps
facilitate the movement of immune cells to the injury site.
5. Which of the following is a characteristic of the adaptive immune response?
A) Non-specific defense
B) Immediate response
C) Immunological memory
D) First line of defense
Correct Answer: Immunological memory
, Rationale: Adaptive immunity is characterized by its antigen specificity, immunological memory, and
capacity for a tailored response. Upon exposure to an antigen, B and T lymphocytes undergo clonal
expansion, and memory lymphocytes are generated for long-term protection.
6. Which immunoglobulin is primarily responsible for allergic responses and combating parasitic
infections?
A) IgG
B) IgM
C) IgA
D) IgE
Correct Answer: IgE
Rationale: IgE is the immunoglobulin responsible for inflammation and allergic responses, as well as
combating parasitic infections. IgG is the most abundant antibody, IgM is the first produced, and IgA is
found in mucosal secretions.
7. What is the term for the process by which antibodies bind to pathogens and make them more
susceptible to phagocytosis?
A) Neutralization
B) Agglutination
C) Opsonization
D) Complement fixation
Correct Answer: Opsonization
Rationale: Opsonization is the process by which antibodies or complement proteins coat a pathogen,
making it more recognizable and susceptible to phagocytosis. Neutralization blocks pathogen activity,
agglutination clumps pathogens, and complement fixation activates the complement cascade.
Exam | Portage Learning |Q&A | 26/27 Edition
(PDF)
1. Which type of immunity is present at birth and provides the first line of defense against pathogens?
A) Adaptive immunity
B) Innate immunity
C) Passive immunity
D) Humoral immunity
Correct Answer: Innate immunity
Rationale: Innate immunity is the non-specific, first-line defense that is present at birth and includes
physical barriers (skin), chemical barriers, and cellular components like phagocytes. Adaptive immunity
develops over time in response to specific antigens. Passive immunity is acquired from another source,
and humoral immunity involves antibodies.
2. What is the primary function of the skin's physical barrier in innate immunity?
A) Producing antibodies
B) Activating T cells
C) Preventing microbial invasion
D) Generating immunological memory
Correct Answer: Preventing microbial invasion
Rationale: The skin acts as the body's primary physical barrier, with multiple layers of tightly packed
epithelial cells, particularly keratinocytes, that prevent microbial invasion. The outermost layer, the
stratum corneum, consists of dead keratinized cells that are continuously shed, physically removing
adherent microorganisms.
3. Which cells are the primary phagocytes that arrive early to the site of injury during inflammation?
,A) Macrophages
B) Neutrophils
C) Lymphocytes
D) Mast cells
Correct Answer: Neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary phagocytes that arrive early to the injury site and are the most
abundant type of white blood cells in the inflammatory response. Macrophages arrive later and are also
phagocytic, lymphocytes are involved in adaptive immunity, and mast cells release histamine.
4. What is the role of platelets in the inflammatory process?
A) Producing antibodies
B) Releasing histamine
C) Releasing inflammatory mediators to increase vascular permeability
D) Activating complement
Correct Answer: Releasing inflammatory mediators to increase vascular permeability
Rationale: Platelets release inflammatory mediators that increase vascular permeability and alter
endothelial cell properties, including adhesive, chemotactic, and proteolytic functions. This helps
facilitate the movement of immune cells to the injury site.
5. Which of the following is a characteristic of the adaptive immune response?
A) Non-specific defense
B) Immediate response
C) Immunological memory
D) First line of defense
Correct Answer: Immunological memory
, Rationale: Adaptive immunity is characterized by its antigen specificity, immunological memory, and
capacity for a tailored response. Upon exposure to an antigen, B and T lymphocytes undergo clonal
expansion, and memory lymphocytes are generated for long-term protection.
6. Which immunoglobulin is primarily responsible for allergic responses and combating parasitic
infections?
A) IgG
B) IgM
C) IgA
D) IgE
Correct Answer: IgE
Rationale: IgE is the immunoglobulin responsible for inflammation and allergic responses, as well as
combating parasitic infections. IgG is the most abundant antibody, IgM is the first produced, and IgA is
found in mucosal secretions.
7. What is the term for the process by which antibodies bind to pathogens and make them more
susceptible to phagocytosis?
A) Neutralization
B) Agglutination
C) Opsonization
D) Complement fixation
Correct Answer: Opsonization
Rationale: Opsonization is the process by which antibodies or complement proteins coat a pathogen,
making it more recognizable and susceptible to phagocytosis. Neutralization blocks pathogen activity,
agglutination clumps pathogens, and complement fixation activates the complement cascade.
