A nonspecific defense reaction to tissue damage caused by injury or infection is known as

A. passive immunity.

B. the inflammatory response.

C. active immunity.

D. cell-mediated immunity.

The correct answer is B.

When a tissue of the body gets injured, the immune system immediately initiates an inflammatory response localized at the site of injury. The inflammatory response is a defense mechanism of the innate or non-specific arm of the immune system.

In an inflammatory response, small blood vessels at site of injury dilate causing increased blood flow into the area. White blood cells and special serum proteins speedily arrive at the site and begin destroying bacteria and other foreign bodies that may have gained access to the body through the broken tissue.