which part of the brain controls breathing and heart rate

ATI TEAS 7

Practice TEAS Science Test

1. Which part of the brain controls breathing and heart rate?

A. Cerebrum
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Thalamus
D. Cerebellum

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The medulla oblongata is the correct answer because it is responsible for controlling involuntary functions such as breathing and heart rate. The cerebrum (Choice A) is primarily associated with higher brain functions like thinking and voluntary movements, not with regulating basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate. The thalamus (Choice C) serves as a relay station for sensory information but is not directly involved in controlling breathing and heart rate. The cerebellum (Choice D) plays a role in coordination and balance, not in regulating respiratory and cardiac functions.

2. What do ligaments connect?

A. Muscle to muscle
B. Bone to bone
C. Bone to muscle
D. Muscle to tendon

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Ligaments are fibrous connective tissues that connect bone to bone, providing stability and support to joints. They help prevent excessive movement in the joints and maintain proper alignment between bones during movement. Ligaments are not directly involved in connecting muscle to muscle, bone to muscle, or muscle to tendon. Choice A is incorrect because ligaments do not connect muscle to muscle. Choice C is incorrect as ligaments do not connect bone to muscle. Choice D is incorrect as ligaments do not connect muscle to tendon.

3. When a patient is lying flat on their back, which of the following positions are they in?

A. Prone.
B. Supine.
C. Lateral.
D. Medial.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a patient is lying flat on their back, they are in the supine position. In the supine position, the person's face is facing upward, and their back is touching the surface they are lying on. This position is commonly used for medical examinations and procedures. Choice A, 'Prone,' refers to lying face down, not on the back. Choice C, 'Lateral,' indicates lying on the side. Choice D, 'Medial,' pertains to the middle or center, not a position in relation to lying on the back.

4. In the context of the cardiac cycle, what does the P wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) represent?

A. Atrial depolarization
B. Ventricular depolarization
C. Atrial repolarization
D. Ventricular repolarization

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The P wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG) represents atrial depolarization, which signifies the electrical activation of the atria as they prepare to contract. During the cardiac cycle, atrial depolarization occurs first, leading to atrial contraction. Ventricular depolarization is represented by the QRS complex, not the P wave. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the P wave specifically corresponds to atrial depolarization, not ventricular depolarization, atrial repolarization, or ventricular repolarization.

5. What is the name for the sac-shaped structures in which carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange takes place?

A. Kidneys
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Alveoli
D. Bronchioles

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The alveoli are the tiny sac-shaped structures in the lungs where gas exchange occurs. Oxygen from the air we breathe diffuses into the bloodstream through the alveoli, while carbon dioxide, a waste product produced by cells, is removed from the blood and exhaled out of the body through the alveoli. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Kidneys are organs responsible for filtering waste from the blood, the medulla oblongata is a part of the brain responsible for autonomic functions, and bronchioles are smaller airway passages in the lungs that branch off from the bronchi.