What is the diploid number of chromosomes found in every human body cell, excluding gametes?

The diploid number of chromosomes in human body cells is 46. This is because humans are diploid organisms, meaning that each cell contains two complete sets of chromosomes, one set inherited from each parent. In humans, there are a total of 23 pairs of chromosomes, resulting in 46 individual chromosomes. These include 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (XX in females and XY in males), making a total of 46 chromosomes.

In contrast, gametes (sperm and eggs) are haploid cells that contain only one set of 23 chromosomes, which allows for the correct chromosomal number to be restored to 46 upon fertilization. Other options—22, 23, and 44—represent either an incomplete count or a misunderstanding of the chromosome structure in human cells, as they do not account for the total diploid number across all chromosome pairs in a typical somatic (body) cell.