Introduction to the Immune System
1. What is the primary function of the immune system?
● A) To produce energy
● B) To defend the body against pathogens
● C) To regulate body temperature
● D) To aid in digestion
2. Which of the following is considered a pathogen?
● A) Bacteria
● B) Virus
● C) Fungus
● D) All of the above
3. How do bacteria typically harm healthy body cells?
● A) By releasing toxins
● B) By entering and replicating within cells
● C) By causing physical damage
● D) By blocking nutrient absorption
4. What is the role of the lymphatic system in the immune response?
● A) To produce hormones
● B) To transport oxygen
● C) To filter pathogens from the blood
● D) To regulate body temperature
5. What is lymph?
● A) A type of white blood cell
● B) Interstitial fluid that has entered the lymphatic system
● C) A type of antibody
● D) A pathogen
The Organization of Immune Function: Three Lines of Defense
6. Which of the following is NOT a component of the first line of defense?
● A) Skin
● B) Mucous membranes
● C) Phagocytes
● D) Stomach acid
7. What is the primary function of the first line of defense?
● A) To destroy pathogens
● B) To restrict the entry of pathogens
● C) To produce antibodies
● D) To remember pathogens
8. Which enzyme found in tears and sweat digests bacterial cell walls?
● A) Amylase
● B) Lysozyme
● C) Protease
● D) Lipase
9. What is the primary function of phagocytic white blood cells?
● A) To produce antibodies
● B) To engulf and destroy pathogens
● C) To secrete histamines
● D) To regulate body temperature
10. Which type of white blood cell is most abundant and first to respond to infection?
● A) Macrophages
● B) Neutrophils
● C) Natural killer cells
● D) Lymphocytes
Innate Immunity: Second Line of Defense
11. What triggers the production and release of peptides and proteins that attack pathogens?
● A) Antigen recognition
● B) Pathogen recognition
● C) Antibody production
● D) Hormone secretion
12. What is the role of interferons in the immune response?
● A) To stimulate antibody production
● B) To interfere with viral infections
● C) To increase body temperature
● D) To secrete histamines
13. What is the complement system?
● A) A group of proteins that destroy cells
● B) A type of white blood cell
● C) A type of antibody
● D) A signaling molecule
14. Which signaling molecule is released by mast cells during an inflammatory response?
● A) Interferon
● B) Cytokine
● C) Histamine
● D) Lysozyme
15. What is the primary function of cytokines in the immune response?
● A) To destroy pathogens
● B) To enhance an immune response
● C) To produce antibodies
● D) To regulate body temperature
16. What is the role of neutrophils at the site of injury?
● A) To release histamines
● B) To secrete cytokines
● C) To digest pathogens and cell debris
● D) To produce antibodies
17. What systemic response occurs when a local inflammatory response is not enough?
● A) Fever
● B) Swelling
● C) Redness
● D) Pain
18. What triggers the hypothalamus to raise body temperature during a fever?
● A) Release of histamines
● B) Release of interleukin-1
● C) Release of cytokines
● D) Release of lysozyme
19. How does a higher body temperature help defend against infection?
● A) By inhibiting bacterial growth
● B) By stimulating phagocytosis
● C) By speeding up tissue repair
● D) All of the above
20. Which cells are involved in the second line of defense and destroy virus-infected cells and
cancer cells?
● A) Neutrophils
● B) Macrophages
● C) Natural killer cells
● D) Lymphocytes
Adaptive Immunity: Third Line of Defense
21. What is the primary function of the adaptive immune system?
● A) To provide a rapid local response to pathogens
● B) To identify, destroy, and remember harmful non-self particles
● C) To restrict the entry of pathogens
● D) To produce histamines
22. Which cells are responsible for the adaptive immune response?
● A) Neutrophils
● B) Macrophages
● C) Lymphocytes
● D) Natural killer cells
23. Where do T cells mature?
● A) Bone marrow
● B) Thymus
● C) Spleen
● D) Lymph nodes
24. What is the primary function of B cells?
● A) To produce antibodies
● B) To destroy virus-infected cells
● C) To secrete histamines
● D) To regulate body temperature
25. Which type of B cell remains in the body and "remembers" pathogens?
● A) Plasma cells
● B) Memory cells
● C) Helper B cells
● D) Cytotoxic B cells
26. What is the role of helper T cells in the immune response?
● A) To produce antibodies
● B) To destroy virus-infected cells
● C) To activate other immune cells
● D) To secrete histamines
27. Which type of T cell directly attacks and destroys infected cells?
● A) Helper T cells
● B) Cytotoxic T cells
● C) Memory T cells
● D) Regulatory T cells
28. What is an antigen?
● A) A type of white blood cell
● B) A protein that binds to pathogens
● C) A molecule that triggers an immune response
● D) A signaling molecule
29. What is the function of antibodies?
● A) To destroy pathogens
● B) To bind to antigens and neutralize them
● C) To secrete histamines
● D) To regulate body temperature
30. Which class of antibodies is the most abundant in the blood?
● A) IgM
● B) IgG
● C) IgA
● D) IgE
31. What is the role of memory B cells in the immune response?
● A) To produce antibodies
● B) To destroy virus-infected cells
● C) To remember past infections
● D) To secrete histamines
32. How do T cells recognize infected cells?
● A) By detecting antibodies
● B) By recognizing MHC molecules displaying antigen fragments
● C) By binding to histamines
● D) By secreting cytokines
33. What is the function of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules?
● A) To produce antibodies
● B) To display antigen fragments on the cell surface
● C) To secrete histamines
● D) To regulate body temperature
34. Which type of T cell helps regulate the immune response and prevent autoimmune
reactions?
● A) Helper T cells
● B) Cytotoxic T cells
● C) Memory T cells
● D) Regulatory T cells
35. What is the primary function of plasma cells?
● A) To produce antibodies
● B) To destroy virus-infected cells
● C) To secrete histamines
● D) To regulate body temperature
Passive Immunity
36. What is passive immunity?
● A) Immunity acquired through vaccination
● B) Immunity acquired through the transfer of antibodies from another
individual
● C) Immunity acquired through exposure to pathogens
● D) Immunity acquired through the production of antibodies
37. How can maternal immunity be transferred to a baby?
● A) Through the placenta
● B) Through breast milk
● C) Through vaccination
● D) Both A and B
38. What is the primary benefit of antibodies obtained through breast milk?
● A) They provide long-term immunity
● B) They help the baby against pathogens
● C) They stimulate antibody production
● D) They regulate body temperature
39. What is the primary benefit of antibodies obtained through breast milk?
● A) They provide long-term immunity
● B) They help the baby against pathogens
● C) They stimulate antibody production
● D) They regulate body temperature
40. How is passive immunity typically obtained through vaccination?
● A) By injecting live pathogens
● B) By injecting antibodies
● C) By injecting dead pathogens
● D) By injecting antigens
41. What is the duration of passive immunity obtained through antibodies?
● A) Long-term
● B) Short-term
● C) Permanent
● D) Lifetime
42. Which type of immunity involves the body's own production of antibodies?
● A) Passive immunity
● B) Active immunity
● C) Innate immunity
● D) Adaptive immunity
43. What is the primary difference between active and passive immunity?
● A) Active immunity is acquired through vaccination, while passive immunity is
acquired through exposure to pathogens
● B) Active immunity involves the production of antibodies by the body, while passive
immunity involves the transfer of antibodies from another individual
● C) Active immunity is short-term, while passive immunity is long-term
● D) Active immunity is innate, while passive immunity is adaptive
44. Which of the following is an example of passive immunity?
● A) Vaccination with a live attenuated virus
● B) Transfer of antibodies from mother to baby through breast milk
● C) Exposure to a pathogen and subsequent antibody production
● D) Production of antibodies after a viral infection
45. What is the primary function of antibodies in passive immunity?
● A) To stimulate the production of white blood cells
● B) To neutralize pathogens
● C) To increase body temperature
● D) To secrete histamines
46. Which type of immunity provides immediate protection against pathogens?
● A) Active immunity
● B) Passive immunity
● C) Innate immunity
● D) Adaptive immunity
47. How does passive immunity differ from innate immunity?
● A) Passive immunity is acquired through the transfer of antibodies, while innate
immunity is present at birth
● B) Passive immunity involves the production of antibodies, while innate immunity
involves physical barriers
● C) Passive immunity is long-term, while innate immunity is short-term
● D) Passive immunity is adaptive, while innate immunity is active
48. Which of the following is NOT a method of acquiring passive immunity?
● A) Breastfeeding
● B) Injection of antibodies
● C) Vaccination with live pathogens
● D) Transfer of antibodies through the placenta
49. What is the primary advantage of passive immunity?
● A) It provides long-term protection
● B) It provides immediate protection
● C) It stimulates the body's own immune response
● D) It is permanent
50. Which type of immunity is typically used to provide protection to individuals who are
immunocompromised?
● A) Active immunity
● B) Passive immunity
● C) Innate immunity
● D) Adaptive immunity
