List the two specific immune responses.

• A. Humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity
• B. Innate immunity and adaptive immunity
• C. Skin barriers and fever
• D. Antibody production alone

Answer: (A)

Two specific immune responses refer to the adaptive immune system’s two branches: humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity. Humoral immunity involves B lymphocytes that become plasma cells and produce antibodies circulating in body fluids; these antibodies bind to free pathogens or toxins, neutralize them, and mark invaders for attack by other immune cells. Cell-mediated immunity uses T lymphocytes, including cytotoxic T cells that directly kill infected cells and helper T cells that coordinate and boost the overall immune response. These responses are specific to particular pathogens, unlike innate defenses such as skin barriers or fever, which are nonspecific. Antibody production alone covers only the humoral part, so recognizing both humoral and cell-mediated immunity provides the complete picture of the two specific immune responses.