Chapter 15  Introduction to the Immune Response and Inflammation

Chapter 15  Introduction to the Immune Response and Inflammation

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1. The body’s first-line barrier defense is considered to be what?

A) Mast cells

B) Mucous membranes

C) Skin

D) T cells

Ans: C

Feedback:

The skin is the first line of barrier defense. It acts as a physical barrier to protect the internal tissues and
organs of the body. Mast cells are part of cellular defense. They are found in the respiratory and GI
tracts and are fixed basophils that do not circulate. Mucous membranes are a barrier defense that line
the areas of the body that are exposed to external influences but do not have the benefit of skin
protection. T cells are part of the immune response and provide cell-mediated immunity. Activation of
a T cell by a non​self-cell results in responses that destroy foreign cells.

2. The nurse recognizes what patient has lost a barrier defense increasing his risk for infection?

A) A 68-year-old man diagnosed with prostate cancer

B) A 24-year-old man diagnosed with partial thickness burns

C) A 13-year-old boy diagnosed with chickenpox

D) A 72-year-old man diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia

Ans: B

Feedback:

A burn patient loses the protective barrier of the skin and is at risk for infection. In a partial thickness
burn, the glands of the skin secrete chemicals that destroy many pathogens and also the normal flora
that live on the skin. A cancer patient has decreased cellular defenses. The patient with chickenpox and
the patient with pneumonia both have a diminished immune defense along with the prostate cancer
patient but still are at less risk for infection than the burn patient.

3. After reviewing the results of a complete blood count on a patient who is diagnosed with an acute

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 238

infection, what will the nurse expect to see elevated?

A) Basophil count

B) Eosinophil count

C) Hematocrit

D) Neutrophil count

Ans: D

Feedback:

During an acute infection, the neutrophils are rapidly produced in response to the interleukins released
by active white blood cells. They move to the site of insult to attack the foreign substance. Eosinophils
are often increased in an allergic response. Basophils would only increase with generalized bone
marrow stimulation. The hematocrit level is increased in polycythemia.

4. A new mother calls the clinic and tells the nurse her toddler has a temperature of 102ºF. How does the
nurse explain why the mother should not be alarmed?

A) ​A fever is the body’s way of fighting an infection and supporting the body’s immune system.​

B) ​Neutrophils release pyrogen, a fever-causing substance, which helps act as a catalyst for the body’s
inflammatory and immune responses.​

C) ​Leukotrienes activated by arachidonic acid attract neutrophils to start the process of fighting
inflammation.​

D) ​Inflammation causes the activation of a chemical called Hageman factor that initiates a process to
bring more blood to the injured area and allows white blood cells to escape into the tissues.​

Ans: A

Feedback:

The best response by the nurse would be that a fever actually increases the efficiency of the immune
and inflammatory responses, helping the body to fight the infection. While the other three statements
are correct, they are more technical and include terminology that a new mother may not understand or
even care about. If the appropriate response does not suffice and the mother still has questions, the
nurse would then go into more detail and use the rationale from the other options to explain in greater
detail.

5. A patient presents to the emergency department with an infected wound on his left forearm. The nurse
explains the inflammatory response caused by the injury will occur in what sequence?

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 239

A) Heat, pain, redness, swelling

B) Swelling, pain, redness, heat

C) Redness, swelling, heat, pain

D) Pain, redness, swelling, heat

Ans: C

Feedback:

The inflammatory response will begin with redness in the direct line of the infected wound. Next,
swelling will occur because of the fluid that leaks into the tissue as a result of the change in capillary
permeability. The heat can be detected due to the increased blood flow to the area. Pain will be felt due
to the activation of fibers by histamine and the kinin system as well as stretching of the tissue caused by
the edema.