The mucosal immune system provides protection for a vast area of the body and contains three-quarters of all the lymphocytes in the body. A key feature of the mucosal immune system is its:
A) Ability to respond to thousands of different bacterial species
B) Inability to provide adequate protection, leading to millions of deaths per year due to mucosal infections
C) Ability to avoid responding to the large numbers and differing species of commensal microbes
D) Use of the identical mechanisms and response features compared to the systemic immune system
E) Inability to produce antibodies that cross epithelial barriers

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mucosal immune system has the ability to recognize and tolerate the large population of commensal microbes in the gut, avoiding unnecessary immune responses.

The Mucosal Immune System Provides Protection for a Vast Area