Chapter 50: Assessment of Immune Function

Chapter 50: Assessment of Immune Function

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

Multiple Choice

1. A woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is being treated aggressively with a chemotherapeutic regimen. As a result of this regimen she has an inability to fight infection due to the fact her bone marrow is unable to produce a sufficient amount of what?
2. A) Lymphocytes
3. B) Cytoblasts
4. C) Antibodies
5. D) Capillaries

Ans:  A

Chapter:  50

Client Needs:  D-3

Cognitive Level:  Application

Difficulty:  Difficult

Integrated Process:  Nursing Process

Objective:  1

Page and Header:  1545, Anatomic and Physiologic Overview

Feedback:  The white blood cells involved in immunity are produced in the bone marrow.  Like other blood cells, lymphocytes are generated from stem cells, which are undifferentiated cells.  Descendants of stem cells become lymphocytes, the B lymphocytes and the T lymphocytes.  B lymphocytes mature in the bone marrow and then enter the circulation.  T lymphocytes move from the bone marrow to the thymus, where they mature into several kinds of cells with different functions.  Cytoblasts are the protoplasm of the cell outside the nucleus.  Capillaries are small blood vessels.  Antibodies are protein substances that response in the presence of an antigen.  Antibodies are found in normal circulation.

2. During a mumps outbreak at a local school, a patient, who is a school teacher, is exposed. She has previously been immunized for mumps.  What type of immunity does she possess?
3. A) Acquired immunity
4. B) Natural immunity
5. C) Phagocytic immunity
6. D) Humoral immunity

Ans:  A

Chapter:  50

Client Needs:  B

Cognitive Level:  Comprehension

Difficulty:  Moderate

Integrated Process:  Nursing Process

Objective:  2

Page and Header:  1547, Anatomic and Physiologic Overview

Feedback:  Acquired immunity usually develops as a result of prior exposure to an antigen through immunization. When the body is attacked by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens it has three means of defense.  The first line of defense, the phagocytic immune response, involves the WBCs that have the ability to ingest foreign particles. A second protective response is the humoral immune response, which begeins when the B lymphocytes transform themselves into plasma cells that manufacture antibodies.  The natural immune response system is rapid nonspecific immunity present at birth.

3. A gardener sustained a deep laceration while working and requires sutures. The patient is asked about the date of her last tetanus shot which, she tells the nurse, 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?
4. A) An antibody
5. B) An antigen
6. C) A bacteria
7. D) A virus

Ans:  A

Chapter:  50

Client Needs:  A-2

Cognitive Level:  Application

Difficulty:  Difficult

Integrated Process:  Nursing Process

Objective:  3

Page and Header:  1547, Anatomic and Physiologic Overview

Feedback:  The structural part of the invading or attacking organism that is responsible for stimulating antibody production is called an antigen.  For example, an antigen can be a small patch of proteins on the outer surface of the microorganism.  Not all antigens are naturally immunogenic and must be coupled to other molecules to stimulate the immune response.  A single bacterium or large molecule, such as diphtheria or tetanus toxin, may have several antigens, or markers, on its surface, thus inducing the body to produce a number of different antibodies.  Bacteria are microorganisms.  A virus is an organism that can cause disease.

4. The infection control nurse is presenting an inservice for the staff on the immune reaction of the body. The nurse understands that the clumping effect that occurs when an antibody acts like a cross-link between two antigens is termed what?
5. A) Agglutination
6. B) Cellular immune response
7. C) Humoral response
8. D) Phagocytic immune response

Ans:  A

Chapter:  50

Client Needs:  D-4

Cognitive Level:  Comprehension

Difficulty:  Moderate

Integrated Process:  Nursing Process

Objective:  1

Page and Header:  1550, Anatomic and Physiologic Overview

Feedback:  Agglutination refers to the clumping effect occurring when an antibody acts as a cross-link between two antigens. Cellular immune response, the immune system’s third line of defense, involves the attack of pathogens by T-cells. Humoral response is the immune system’s second line of defense, often termed the antibody response. The phagocytic immune response, or immune response, is the system’s first line of defense, involving white blood cells that have the ability to ingest foreign particles.

5. The nursing instructor is discussing the different types of immunity with the Level I nursing students. The instructor gives an example of a patient given a vaccination for rubella; what will the healthy patient develop?
6. A) Natural immunity
7. B) Active acquired immunity
8. C) The disease rubella
9. D) Hypersensitivity

Ans:  B

Chapter:  50

Client Needs:  D-4

Cognitive Level:  Analysis

Difficulty:  Difficult

Integrated Process:  Nursing Process

Objective:  5

Page and Header:  1547, Anatomic and Physiologic Overview

Feedback:  Active acquired immunity usually develops as a result of vaccination or contracting a disease. Natural immunity is present at birth and provides a nonspecific response to any foreign invader. Passive acquired immunity is temporary immunity transmitted from another source that has developed immunity through previous disease or immunization.