Which of the following is the last line of defence before the disease process occurs?

The inflammatory response acts as the last line of defense before a disease process occurs. When potential threats such as pathogens penetrate the body's primary defenses (like the skin or mucous membranes), the inflammatory response is triggered. This complex biological process serves to contain and eliminate the harmful agents, as well as to initiate healing.

During inflammation, various immune cells are recruited to the site of injury or infection, and they release signaling molecules that promote further immune activity. The process includes redness, heat, swelling, and pain, which highlight the body's effort to isolate and eradicate the invading pathogens. This reaction is essential because it prevents the pathogens from spreading further into the bloodstream and affecting other systems.

While the skin serves as the first barrier against environmental pathogens, and mucous membranes and saliva play supportive roles in trapping and neutralizing microbes, these options primarily act as initial defenses. The inflammatory response signifies a more advanced, systemic reaction to an already established point of threat. Hence, it is the critical mechanism that activates when primary defenses fail, marking it as the last line before a full-blown disease process takes hold.