Question

If a patient has a defective thymic environment, how might this affect their immune system?

a) T cell function is impaired, but B cell responses remain normal.
b) B cell function is impaired, but T cell responses remain normal.
c) Complement activity is impaired, but T and B cell function is normal.
d) Natural killer (NK) cell function is impaired, but T and B cell function is normal.
e) T cell and B cell function are both impaired.

Answer 1

If a patient has a defective thymic environment, it would impair T cell function, but B cell responses would remain normal.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient has a defective thymic environment, it would affect their immune system by impairing T cell function. The thymus is responsible for the maturation of T cells, and without a functioning thymus, T cell development is compromised. B cell responses, on the other hand, remain normal. B cells mature in the bone marrow and are not dependent on the thymus. Therefore, the correct answer is a) T cell function is impaired, but B cell responses remain normal.