A certain cell type has existed in the blood and tissue of its vertebrate host's immune system for over 20 years. One day, it recognizes a newly arrived antigen and binds to it, subsequently triggering a secondary immune response in the body. Which of the following cell types most accurately describes this cell?
A) T cell
B) memory cell
C) secondary cell
D) B cell

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the cell recognizes a newly arrived antigen and triggers a secondary immune response suggests that it is a memory cell, which is a type of immune cell that "remembers" previously encountered antigens and can quickly activate an immune response upon subsequent exposure to the same antigen. T cells and B cells are other types of immune cells, but there is not enough information in the scenario to definitively determine that this cell is a T cell or a B cell. "Secondary cell" is not a recognized term in immunology.

A Certain Cell Type Has Existed in the Blood and Tissue