Before You Begin
Question #46512
The Question
A severe ecological disruption causes a drastic decline in secondary productivity, leading to widespread protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in a human population. Clinical evaluations reveal a massive surge in opportunistic infections specifically localized to the respiratory, digestive, and urogenital tracts. Based on NCERT principles, which of the following statements correctly identifies the primary immunological failure?
Options
- A.
Nutritional stress impairs lymphocyte proliferation in MALT, a primary lymphoid tissue that constitutes approximately 50% of the body's lymphoid mass.
- B.
PEM induces atrophy of the spleen, a secondary lymphoid organ that constitutes 50% of the lymphoid tissue and guards the major mucosal tracts.
- C.
Nutritional stress impairs the clonal expansion of lymphocytes in MALT, a secondary lymphoid tissue that constitutes approximately 50% of the lymphoid tissue in the human body.
- D.
The drop in secondary productivity inhibits the Thymus, a secondary lymphoid organ, from maturing T-lymphocytes required for mucosal defense.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
MALT Structure|Secondary Productivity|Pathogen Load
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Distinguishing between Primary and Secondary lymphoid organs while recalling exact NCERT quantitative data (MALT = 50%).
The trap relies on 'Word-Play'—students will quickly recognize 'MALT' and '50%' in Option A and select it, completely missing the fatal insertion of the word 'primary'.
Primary lymphoid organs (Bone marrow, Thymus) are where lymphocytes mature, whereas secondary lymphoid organs (MALT, Spleen, Lymph nodes) are where they proliferate and interact with antigens.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Human Health and Disease - Class 12 |
| Concept | MALT Structure |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |