When a ligand is released, what prevents all of the cells in the body from being affected?

a) There is only one receptor for the ligand to bind to

b) The ligand can only bind to a certain cell-receptor at a specific time

c) The shape of the receptors allow specific ligands to bind to it in order to carry out specific functions

d) The ligand never reaches the receptor

C) The shape of the receptors allow specific ligands to bind to it in order to carry out specific functions.

Explanation: The reason for this phenomenon is that the ligands are specific so are the receptors. Specificity is a property of the receptors, as the shape of the receptors changes, the ligand cannot bind to it.

Answer: the correct option is C (The shape of the receptors allow specific ligands to bind to it in order to carry out specific functions)

Explanation:

When a ligand is released, what prevents all of the cells in the body from being affected is The corresponding shape of the ligand and the receptor allows for specificity. For example, receptors for immune ligands would be found on the target immune system cells and not on cardiac muscle cells or skin epithelial cells. Thus, even though the cardiac muscle cells or skin epithelial cells would be exposed to immune ligand, they would not be able to bind to it and therefore could not react to it.