College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

In which part of the body would you typically find plasma cells?

1. In the liver

2. In the bone marrow

3. In the brain

4. In the lungs

The correct answer is: In the bone marrow

Plasma cells are specialized white blood cells that play a critical role in the immune system by producing antibodies. These cells are derived from B lymphocytes (B cells) after they become activated by encountering their specific antigen. The primary location in the body where plasma cells are found is the bone marrow. The bone marrow serves as the major site for the production and maturation of blood cells, including B cells, which then differentiate into plasma cells. Once they are fully matured, many of these plasma cells migrate to various tissues to carry out their function of antibody production, but their origin and significant presence is in the bone marrow itself. Other parts of the body mentioned in the choices, such as the liver, brain, and lungs, do not serve as major sites for plasma cell presence or function. The liver is primarily involved in metabolic processes, the brain primarily functions as the control center of the nervous system, and the lungs are involved in respiration. While immune cells do circulate in these areas, the specific development and abundance of plasma cells are notably associated with the bone marrow.