ATI ALTERATIONS IN IMMUNITY AND
INFLAMMATORY FUNCTION
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS STUDY GUIDE
●● What is a pathogen?
Answer: A disease-causing organism.
●● What is an antigen?
Answer: A molecule on the surface of a foreign substance that triggers
an immune response.
●● Why does the immune system recognize antigens instead of entire
pathogens?
Answer: Because antigens act as identification markers on foreign cells.
●● What are the three major types of pathogens commonly mentioned
on the TEAS?
Answer: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
●● What happens when the immune system mistakes the body's own
cells for pathogens?
Answer: An autoimmune disease develops.
,●● What is an allergy?
Answer: An immune response against a harmless substance.
●● Why is pollen considered an allergen rather than a pathogen?
Answer: Because it triggers an immune response without causing
infection.
●● What is tissue rejection?
Answer: The immune system attacks transplanted tissue because it
recognizes foreign antigens.
●● Why can receiving the wrong blood type be dangerous?
Answer: The immune system attacks the foreign blood cell antigens.
●● Which blood type can safely receive type A blood?
Answer: Type A or AB.
●● Why can't a person with type A blood receive type B blood?
Answer: Their immune system already has antibodies against B
antigens.
●● What are the three lines of defense against infection?
, Answer: First line: external innate immunity. Second line: internal innate
immunity. Third line: adaptive immunity.
●● Which line of defense prevents pathogens from entering the body?
Answer: First line.
●● Which line of defense responds immediately after pathogens enter
the body?
Answer: Second line.
●● Which line of defense develops specific immunity against
pathogens?
Answer: Third line.
●● What is innate immunity?
Answer: Nonspecific immunity present at birth.
●● Why is innate immunity called nonspecific?
Answer: Because it responds the same way to many different pathogens.
●● Does innate immunity require previous exposure to a pathogen?
Answer: No.
INFLAMMATORY FUNCTION
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS STUDY GUIDE
●● What is a pathogen?
Answer: A disease-causing organism.
●● What is an antigen?
Answer: A molecule on the surface of a foreign substance that triggers
an immune response.
●● Why does the immune system recognize antigens instead of entire
pathogens?
Answer: Because antigens act as identification markers on foreign cells.
●● What are the three major types of pathogens commonly mentioned
on the TEAS?
Answer: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
●● What happens when the immune system mistakes the body's own
cells for pathogens?
Answer: An autoimmune disease develops.
,●● What is an allergy?
Answer: An immune response against a harmless substance.
●● Why is pollen considered an allergen rather than a pathogen?
Answer: Because it triggers an immune response without causing
infection.
●● What is tissue rejection?
Answer: The immune system attacks transplanted tissue because it
recognizes foreign antigens.
●● Why can receiving the wrong blood type be dangerous?
Answer: The immune system attacks the foreign blood cell antigens.
●● Which blood type can safely receive type A blood?
Answer: Type A or AB.
●● Why can't a person with type A blood receive type B blood?
Answer: Their immune system already has antibodies against B
antigens.
●● What are the three lines of defense against infection?
, Answer: First line: external innate immunity. Second line: internal innate
immunity. Third line: adaptive immunity.
●● Which line of defense prevents pathogens from entering the body?
Answer: First line.
●● Which line of defense responds immediately after pathogens enter
the body?
Answer: Second line.
●● Which line of defense develops specific immunity against
pathogens?
Answer: Third line.
●● What is innate immunity?
Answer: Nonspecific immunity present at birth.
●● Why is innate immunity called nonspecific?
Answer: Because it responds the same way to many different pathogens.
●● Does innate immunity require previous exposure to a pathogen?
Answer: No.
