Which term describes something present but not active or visible?

Which term describes something present but not active or visible?

• A. Initiate
• B. Jaundice
• C. Latent
• D. Invasive

Answer: (C)

Latent describes something present but not active or visible. This means it exists in the body or a system but isn’t causing symptoms or signs at the moment, and it may become active later under certain conditions. A common example is a latent infection, where the pathogen is dormant in the body and can reactivate if immunity wanes or other triggers occur. The other terms don’t fit this idea: to initiate is to begin or start something, not to be present invisibly or dormant; jaundice is a visible symptom—yellowing of the skin due to bilirubin—indicating a current condition rather than something existing but inactive; invasive refers to spreading into tissues or taking hold in a way that affects other areas, which is about action, not a state of being present yet inactive.

Latent describes something present but not active or visible. This means it exists in the body or a system but isn’t causing symptoms or signs at the moment, and it may become active later under certain conditions. A common example is a latent infection, where the pathogen is dormant in the body and can reactivate if immunity wanes or other triggers occur. The other terms don’t fit this idea: to initiate is to begin or start something, not to be present invisibly or dormant; jaundice is a visible symptom—yellowing of the skin due to bilirubin—indicating a current condition rather than something existing but inactive; invasive refers to spreading into tissues or taking hold in a way that affects other areas, which is about action, not a state of being present yet inactive.