White Blood Cell Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. A blood smear shows a white blood cell with a segmented, multilobed nucleus and fine, pale granules. Which cell is it?
Basophil
Lymphocyte
Monocyte
Neutrophil
2. A neutrophil leaves a blood vessel by squeezing between endothelial cells to reach infected tissue. What is this process called?
Diapedesis
Hemostasis
Hemolysis
Agglutination
3. Which leukocyte contains granules associated with histamine release in immediate hypersensitivity reactions?
Neutrophil
Basophil
Monocyte
Cytotoxic T cell
4. Which white blood cell type is normally the most abundant in the peripheral blood of a healthy adult?
Basophil
Eosinophil
Neutrophil
Monocyte
5. A virus-infected cell displays viral peptides on MHC class I molecules. Which white blood cell is specialized to recognize and kill that cell?
Eosinophil
Cytotoxic T lymphocyte
Basophil
Plasma cell
6. Which leukocyte commonly increases during many parasitic infections and allergic conditions?
Monocyte
Neutrophil
B lymphocyte
Eosinophil
7. A blood smear shows unusually large neutrophils with hypersegmented nuclei. This pattern is classically associated with which process?
Reduced hemoglobin synthesis from iron deficiency
Impaired DNA synthesis from vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
Rapid neutrophil release during an acute bacterial infection
Loss of the red cell membrane in hereditary spherocytosis
8. Which white blood cell can mature into a plasma cell that secretes antibodies?
Natural killer cell
B lymphocyte
Neutrophil
Monocyte
9. A patient with an allergic disorder has an increased granulocyte count. Which cell is the most likely contributor?
Monocyte
B lymphocyte
Eosinophil
Natural killer cell
10. A patient has severe neutropenia after chemotherapy. Which immediate concern is most directly related to the low neutrophil count?
Reduced oxygen transport to tissues
Impaired formation of platelet plugs
Reduced production of circulating antibodies only
Greater susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections
11. Which circulating white blood cell can enter tissues and differentiate into a macrophage?
Basophil
Eosinophil
Monocyte
Plasma cell
12. Which pair consists of agranulocytes rather than granulocytes?
Lymphocytes and monocytes
Eosinophils and basophils
Basophils and monocytes
Neutrophils and eosinophils
13. Under a microscope, a neutrophil surrounds and internalizes a bacterium. Which immune process is being demonstrated?
Antibody class switching
Clonal deletion
Phagocytosis
Complement synthesis
14. Which statement best distinguishes leukemia from a temporary reactive increase in white blood cells?
Leukemia involves uncontrolled clonal proliferation of abnormal hematopoietic cells
Leukemia is defined by any white blood cell count above the reference interval
Leukemia always increases every white blood cell type equally
Leukemia occurs only when mature neutrophils respond to infection
15. A CBC shows 8,000 white blood cells per microliter, with 55% segmented neutrophils and 5% bands. What is the approximate absolute neutrophil count?
400 cells per microliter
4,400 cells per microliter
8,000 cells per microliter
4,800 cells per microliter
16. A differential count reports a “left shift” during an acute infection. What does this finding most directly indicate?
An increased proportion of immature neutrophil forms
An increased proportion of mature lymphocytes
A reduced number of circulating monocytes
A rise in antibody-producing plasma cells