Immunology & Serology Flashcards
7 cards from real CMLA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Immunology & Serology flashcards as text
What type of immunity is acquired through vaccination?
Answer: Artificial active immunity
Vaccination introduces antigens artificially to stimulate the body's own immune system to produce antibodies, which is classified as artificial active immunity.
Which immunoglobulin is the most abundant in serum and provides long-term immunity?
Answer: IgG
IgG is the most abundant immunoglobulin in serum (~75-80% of total), provides long-term immunity, and is the only class that crosses the placenta.
Which complement pathway is activated by antigen-antibody (immune) complexes?
Answer: Classical pathway
The classical complement pathway is initiated when C1q binds to antigen-antibody complexes, triggering the complement cascade.
What is the primary function of B lymphocytes in the immune response?
Answer: Antibody (immunoglobulin) production
B lymphocytes differentiate into plasma cells that produce antigen-specific antibodies (immunoglobulins), mediating humoral immunity.
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE antibodies and occurs immediately upon antigen exposure?
Answer: Type I (anaphylactic)
Type I hypersensitivity is mediated by IgE antibodies bound to mast cells and basophils; cross-linking by antigen triggers immediate degranulation.
Which immunoglobulin is the first to be produced during a primary immune response?
Answer: IgM
IgM is the first antibody produced in a primary immune response; its pentameric structure provides efficient early defense before class switching to IgG occurs.
An antigen is best defined as a substance that:
Answer: Stimulates an immune response and binds specifically to antibodies
An antigen is any molecule that stimulates an immune response and can bind specifically to the antibodies or T-cell receptors it elicited.