Nursing Elites

1. Which statement about white blood cells is true?

• A. B cells are responsible for antibody production.
• B. White blood cells are produced in the bone marrow before entering the bloodstream.
• C. Platelets, a specialized class of blood cells, function to clot blood and stop bleeding.
• D. The majority of white blood cells are active throughout life, providing immunity across all age groups.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: B cells, a type of white blood cell, are responsible for producing antibodies in response to pathogens. Antibodies play a crucial role in identifying and neutralizing foreign substances like bacteria and viruses in the body, aiding in the immune response and protecting against infections. This function is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system. White blood cells, including B cells, are produced in the bone marrow before entering the bloodstream. Platelets, not white blood cells, are a specialized class of blood cells that function to clot blood and stop bleeding. While white blood cells provide immunity, not all of them are active throughout life as some have specific lifespans and functions.

2. Which of the following describes the general function of cytokines in the immune system?

• A. They communicate between cells to instigate an immune response.
• B. They inhibit blood clotting during inflammation responses.
• C. They bind to specific pathogens to increase pathogen mass.
• D. They transport pathogens trapped in mucus to be destroyed in the stomach.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'They communicate between cells to instigate an immune response.' Cytokines are signaling molecules that act as messengers between cells in the immune system, playing a vital role in coordinating and regulating immune responses. They communicate with various immune cells to initiate appropriate responses against pathogens. Choice B is incorrect because cytokines do not inhibit blood clotting but rather regulate immune responses. Choice C is incorrect as cytokines do not bind to specific pathogens to increase their mass; instead, they regulate the immune response. Choice D is also incorrect because cytokines do not transport pathogens trapped in mucus to the stomach for destruction; they primarily function as signaling molecules within the immune system.

3. After exposure to a pathogen, the immune system develops memory. What type of immune cell is responsible for this immunological memory?

• A. B cells
• B. T cells (specifically memory T cells)
• C. Phagocytes
• D. Natural killer cells

Correct answer: A

Rationale: B cells are responsible for immunological memory. Memory B cells, a type of B cells, retain a 'memory' of specific pathogens, enabling them to rapidly produce antibodies upon re-exposure. This rapid antibody production facilitates a quicker and more effective immune response. Although memory T cells also contribute to immunological memory by mounting a swift and robust immune response upon re-exposure to the pathogen, it is primarily memory B cells that play a crucial role in producing antibodies. Phagocytes are important immune cells involved in engulfing and digesting pathogens, while natural killer cells are primarily responsible for recognizing and eliminating abnormal cells, such as virus-infected cells or tumor cells. However, when it comes to immunological memory and antibody production, B cells are key players.

4. Which of the following is a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in adaptive immunity by seeking out, attacking, and destroying targeted pathogens?

• A. memory B cells
• B. neutrophils
• C. antibodies
• D. cytotoxic T cells

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is cytotoxic T cells. Cytotoxic T cells are a type of white blood cell that is crucial in adaptive immunity. They are specialized in recognizing and destroying infected or abnormal cells in the body. Neutrophils are primarily involved in innate immunity, providing rapid response to infections. Antibodies are proteins produced by B cells and are essential in specific immune responses, but they do not directly attack pathogens. Memory B cells are part of the adaptive immune response, responsible for mounting a quicker and stronger response upon re-exposure to a pathogen. However, they do not directly seek out and destroy pathogens like cytotoxic T cells do.

5. What is the difference between a homozygous recessive genotype and a homozygous dominant genotype?

• A. Both have the same phenotype, but different genotypes.
• B. Both have the same genotype, but different phenotypes.
• C. Homozygous recessive has two dominant alleles, while homozygous dominant has two recessive alleles.
• D. Homozygous recessive has two identical recessive alleles, while homozygous dominant has two identical dominant alleles.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: - Homozygous recessive genotype refers to an individual having two identical recessive alleles for a particular gene (e.g., rr for a trait where r represents the recessive allele). - Homozygous dominant genotype refers to an individual having two identical dominant alleles for a particular gene (e.g., RR for a trait where R represents the dominant allele). - The difference between the two genotypes lies in the specific alleles present in each case, with homozygous recessive having two recessive alleles and homozygous dominant having two dominant alleles. - This genetic difference results in different phenotypes being expressed, as the dominant allele typically masks the expression of the recessive allele in heterozygous individuals.

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