Nokea
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
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 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 systems third line of defense, involves the attack of pathogens by T-cells. The phagocytic immune response, or immune response, is the systems first line of defense, involving white blood cells that have the ability to ingest foreign particles.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patients current immune response involves the direct destruction of foreign microorganisms. This aspect of the immune response may be performed by what cells?
- A. Suppressor T cells
- B. Memory T cells
- C. Cytotoxic T cells
- D. Complement T cells
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cytotoxic T cells (also called CD8 + cells) participate in the destruction of foreign organisms. Memory T cells and suppressor T cells do not perform this role in the immune response. The complement system does not exist as a type of T cell.
A patient with cystic fibrosis has received a double lung transplant and is now experiencing signs of rejection. What is the immune response that predominates in this situation?
- A. Humoral
- B. Nonspecific
- C. Cellular
- D. Mitigated
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Most immune responses to antigens involve both humoral and cellular responses, although only one predominates. During transplantation rejection, the cellular response predominates over the humoral response. Neither a mitigated nor nonspecific cell response is noted in this situation.
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
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 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.
A nursing student is giving a report on the immune system. What function of cytokines should the student describe?
- A. Determining whether a cell is foreign
- B. Determining if lymphokines will be activated
- C. Determining whether the T cells will remain in the nodes and retain a memory of the antigen
- D. Determining whether the immune response will be the production of antibodies or a cell-mediated response
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Separate subpopulations of helper T cells produce different types of cytokines and determine whether the immune response will be the production of antibodies or a cell-mediated immune response. Cytokines do not determine whether cells are foreign, determine if lymphokines will be activated, or determine the role of memory T cells.
A patients exposure to which of the following microorganisms is most likely to trigger a cellular response?
- A. Herpes simplex
- B. Staphylococcus aureus
- C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- D. Beta hemolytic Streptococcus
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Viral, rather than bacterial antigens, induce a cellular response.