Rheumatoid arthritis is a dysfunction of what body system?
a. Skeletal
b. Reproductive
c. Immune
d. Integumentary
c. Immune
The correct answer is c. Immune. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, meaning it occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues, particularly the joints.
The correct answer is c. Immune.
To determine the answer to this question, we need to understand what rheumatoid arthritis is and how it affects the body. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues, specifically the lining of the joints. This immune system dysfunction leads to inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joints.
Now, let's analyze the options given:
a. Skeletal: Rheumatoid arthritis does affect the skeletal system, specifically the joints, but this option does not directly address the immune system dysfunction underlying the disorder.
b. Reproductive: Rheumatoid arthritis is unrelated to the reproductive system, so this option can be eliminated.
c. Immune: This is the correct answer. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an immune system dysfunction where the immune cells mistakenly attack the body's own tissues, specifically the lining of the joints.
d. Integumentary: The integumentary system refers to the skin and its appendages (hair, nails, glands). Rheumatoid arthritis mainly targets the joints, so it does not directly affect the integumentary system.
Therefore, the correct answer is c. Immune.