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11 March, 2010

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Immune system - quiz

Do you know how the immune system protects the human body from diseases? Test your knowledge with our quick health quiz.

1. What is the immune system?
A. A collection of special organs and nerve endings that fight infection.
B. A series of glandular spirals throughout the body that contain microbe-killing chemicals.
C. A collection of special cells and chemicals that fight infection.

2. In which part of the body are white blood cells made?
A. Pancreas.
B. Bone marrow.
C. Spleen.

3. What are the main components of pus?
A. Dead microbes and dead white blood cells.
B. Dead red blood cells that have lost their haemoglobin (the protein responsible for their red colour).
C. Blood plasma and live microbes.

4. Is fever an immune system response?
A. Yes, because the immune system knows it can kill some types of microbes by raising the body temperature a few degrees.
B. Yes, but fever indicates that the immune system is losing the fight against the infection.
C. No, fever is caused by the heat generated when invading microbes undergo cell division.

5. What are suppressor cells?
A. Cells lining the throat that help ease cold symptoms by suppressing the cough reflex.
B. Cells that help call a halt to the immune system response.
C. Cells that use their massive size to squash microbes, and thereby suppress their activity.

6. Which of the following body systems is considered to form part of the immune system?
A. The urinary system.
B. The circulatory system.
C. The lymphatic system.

7. Which other parts of the body help defend against microbes?
A. Skin, lungs and digestive tract.
B. Hair, heart and reproductive system.
C. Muscles, tendons and inner ears.

8. What is an autoimmune disorder?
A. The inability of the immune system to automatically patrol the body for invading microbes, which means the person is vulnerable to colds and flu.
B. A disorder characterised by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body’s own tissues.
C. The failure of an immunisation injection to protect against the particular disease, probably caused by the immune system ‘rejecting’ the vaccine.

Your score is:

Score 0 to 2:
You don’t know much about the immune system at all. It might be a good idea to do some reading on the topic.

Score 3 to 5:
You have a general idea, but the immune system is still a bit of a mystery to you.

Score 6 to 8:
Congratulations, you show an impressive understanding of the immune system.

> Check the best answers.
You might also be interested in:
Autoimmune disorders.
Bone marrow.
Fever.
Immune system.

Want to know more?
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Last updated: March 2008

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