Which immunoglobulin crosses the placenta and offers protection to the newborn during the first weeks of life?

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Multiple Choice

Which immunoglobulin crosses the placenta and offers protection to the newborn during the first weeks of life?

Explanation:
IgG crosses the placenta to provide passive immunity to the newborn in the first weeks of life. This transfer happens through placental Fc receptors that actively transport maternal IgG into the fetal bloodstream, giving the newborn immediate protection before its own immune system is fully mature. The other immunoglobulins don’t cross the placenta: IgM is too large to pass through, and IgA, while important for mucosal and breast-milled protection after birth, does not transfer across the placenta in significant amounts; IgE is not transferred to the fetus either.

IgG crosses the placenta to provide passive immunity to the newborn in the first weeks of life. This transfer happens through placental Fc receptors that actively transport maternal IgG into the fetal bloodstream, giving the newborn immediate protection before its own immune system is fully mature. The other immunoglobulins don’t cross the placenta: IgM is too large to pass through, and IgA, while important for mucosal and breast-milled protection after birth, does not transfer across the placenta in significant amounts; IgE is not transferred to the fetus either.

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