From which type of white blood cell do plasma cells originate?

• A. Neutrophils
• B. T lymphocytes
• C. B lymphocytes
• D. Monocytes

Answer: (C)

Plasma cells originate from B lymphocytes. B cells are the antibody-producing cells of the adaptive immune system. When a B cell binds its specific antigen and receives help from a T helper cell, it becomes activated, clones itself, and differentiates into plasma cells and memory B cells. Plasma cells are the specialized factories that secrete large amounts of antibodies.

The other listed cells come from different parts of the immune system or have different roles. Neutrophils and monocytes are part of the innate immune response, not antibody producers. T lymphocytes handle cell-mediated immunity and help orchestrate responses, but they do not become plasma cells themselves.