The term 'anamnestic' is used to describe which type of immune response?

• A. Primary
• B. Secondary
• C. Tertiary
• D. Quaternary

Answer: (B)

Anamnestic describes the rapid, heightened immune response that occurs when the body is exposed to an antigen a second time. After the first encounter, memory B and T cells remain and are quickly reactivated, leading to a shorter lag, a much higher level of antibodies (often IgG) formed more rapidly, and a stronger overall response. This faster, stronger secondary response is what the term anamnestic captures. A primary response is slower and starts with naïve cells; tertiary and quaternary aren’t standard terms used to describe this context.