Which type of pathogen do interferons defend against?

A. Pons: The pons is involved in regulating the rate and depth of breathing but is not the primary site affected by pyrogens for temperature regulation.

B. Cerebral cortex: The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher-order functions like reasoning and sensory perception but does not directly regulate body temperature in response to pyrogens.

C. Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus acts as the body’s thermostat and is directly affected by pyrogens, leading to the elevation of body temperature (fever) as part of the immune response.

D. Amygdala: The amygdala is primarily involved in emotion regulation and does not play a direct role in temperature regulation.

A. It protects the lungs from overinflating: While protective reflexes (like the Hering-Breuer reflex) exist to prevent overinflation, this is primarily a function of the lungs and the medulla, not directly the hypothalamus.

B. It modifies the medulla oblongata's functions: The hypothalamus influences the medulla oblongata, which controls the basic rhythm and rate of breathing, allowing the body to adjust ventilation in response to emotional states, temperature changes, and other stimuli.

C. It maintains the basic rhythm of breathing: The basic rhythm of breathing is primarily generated by the medulla oblongata and pons, while the hypothalamus modulates these functions rather than maintaining them directly.

D. It monitors the respiration rate in sleep and awake states: While the hypothalamus does play a role in the sleep-wake cycle, the actual monitoring of respiration rate is managed by the respiratory centers in the brainstem (medulla and pons).