Study for the Missouri EFDA Basic Skills Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your certification exam!

Multiple Choice

Which type of immunity is present at birth?

Innate immunity is present at birth, providing the body’s immediate, non-specific defense against a wide range of pathogens. It includes physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes, chemical defenses, and fast-acting immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages that respond without prior exposure. This is different from adaptive immunity, which develops after exposure to a specific pathogen and builds targeted memory for future protection. Passive immunity involves antibodies transferred from another source (like from mother to baby) and is temporary. Inherited immunity isn’t the standard framework for describing the newborn’s defenses in this context.

Innate immunity is present at birth, providing the body’s immediate, non-specific defense against a wide range of pathogens. It includes physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes, chemical defenses, and fast-acting immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages that respond without prior exposure. This is different from adaptive immunity, which develops after exposure to a specific pathogen and builds targeted memory for future protection. Passive immunity involves antibodies transferred from another source (like from mother to baby) and is temporary. Inherited immunity isn’t the standard framework for describing the newborn’s defenses in this context.