Deck 14: Aging With Lifelong Disabilities

Question 1

Which structure of the immune system atrophies throughout life and is almost nonexistent in older adults?

A) Tonsils
B) Thymus gland
C) Spleen
D) Peyer's patches

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which structure of the immune system forms a ring of lymphatic tissues around the pharynx and removes pathogens entering the body through food or inhaled air?

A) Tonsils
B) Thymus gland
C) Lymph nodes
D) Peyer's patches

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following are examples of anatomical barriers to substances invading the body, the first and most basic line of defense? Select all that apply.

A) Skin
B) Inflammatory response
C) Mucous membranes
D) B cells
E) T cells

Answer 3

A, C

Question 4

Your grandfather, Ronald, who is 85 years old, seems to catch colds much easier than he did a few years ago. Because of his age, you understand that his thymus gland is almost nonexistent. Why does this decline in thymus function impair the immune response?

A) Fewer B cells to fight invading antigens
B) Fewer T cells to fight invading antigens
C) Reduction in effectiveness of anatomical barriers of the immune system
D) Decline in the inflammatory response of the immune system

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of an autoimmune disorder that may affect older adults as well as younger people?

A) Pneumonia
B) Prostate cancer
C) Rheumatoid arthritis
D) Herpes zoster

Question 6

Which of the following is the most common cause of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in older adults?

A) Blood transfusions
B) Sharing of hypodermic needles
C) Unprotected sex
D) Organ transplantation

Question 7

Describe the basic difference between innate immunity and acquired immunity.