which of the following structures prevents food from entering the windpipe

ATI TEAS 7

Practice TEAS Science Test

1. Which of the following structures prevents food from entering the windpipe?

A. Pharynx
B. Esophagus
C. Larynx
D. Epiglottis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The epiglottis is the structure that prevents food from entering the windpipe by covering the trachea during swallowing. When food is swallowed, the epiglottis folds over the opening of the trachea to ensure that food goes down the esophagus and not into the airway. The pharynx is a shared pathway for both food and air, leading to the esophagus and larynx respectively. The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The larynx is responsible for producing sound and protecting the airway during swallowing, but the epiglottis is specifically designed to prevent food from entering the windpipe.

2. Which of the following best defines the term amphoteric?

A. A substance that conducts electricity due to ionization when dissolved in a solvent
B. A substance that can act as an acid or a base depending on the properties of the solute
C. A substance that, according to the Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory, is a proton-donor
D. A substance that donates its proton and forms its conjugate base in a neutralization reaction

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An amphoteric substance can act as both an acid or a base depending on the environment. It can donate a proton (act as an acid) or accept a proton (act as a base), showing versatility in its behavior. Choice A is incorrect as it describes an electrolyte rather than an amphoteric substance. Choice C is incorrect as it defines an acid based on the Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory. Choice D is incorrect as it specifically refers to a substance donating a proton in a neutralization reaction, not capturing the dual behavior of an amphoteric substance.

3. The tonsils and adenoids are part of the lymphatic system located in the:

A. Chest cavity
B. Abdominal cavity
C. Head and neck region
D. Pelvic cavity

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The tonsils and adenoids are lymphatic tissues located in the head and neck region, specifically in the throat area. They are essential components of the immune system, acting as the first line of defense against infections that can enter through the nose and mouth. The tonsils are situated at the back of the throat, while the adenoids are positioned high in the throat behind the nose. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not correspond to the anatomical location of the tonsils and adenoids. Therefore, the correct answer is the head and neck region.

4. Based on the following evidence, what is the most likely reason that spoiled food left out in the open often contains fly larvae?

A. The spoiled food evolves into fly larvae.
B. Since the food is left out in the open, flies lay eggs in the food.
C. Fly larvae are spontaneously generated by the spoiled food.
D. People only imagine they see fly larvae in the spoiled food.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Flies laying eggs in the food when it is left exposed to the air is a common occurrence and a logical explanation for the presence of fly larvae in spoiled food. Choice A is incorrect as food cannot evolve into fly larvae; fly larvae come from eggs laid by flies. Choice C is incorrect as fly larvae do not spontaneously generate from spoiled food but rather develop from eggs laid by flies. Choice D is incorrect as the presence of fly larvae in spoiled food is a real phenomenon, not merely imagined by people.

5. Which of the following correctly matches a category of protein with a physiological example?

A. Keratin is a structural protein
B. Antigens are hormonal proteins
C. Channel proteins are marker proteins
D. Actin is a transport protein

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Keratin is indeed a type of structural protein found in the skin, hair, and nails of animals. It provides strength and protection, helping to maintain the overall structure of these tissues. The other choices are incorrect as antigens are not hormonal proteins but rather are involved in immune response, channel proteins are involved in facilitating the transport of ions or molecules across cell membranes, and actin is primarily involved in cell structure and movement, not as a transport protein.