which part of the brain is responsible for balance and coordination

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS Science Questions

1. Which part of the brain is responsible for balance and coordination?

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

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is the cerebellum. The cerebellum is responsible for balance, coordination, and fine motor control. It integrates sensory information from the vestibular system in the inner ear and proprioceptive information from muscles and joints to coordinate voluntary movements. The cerebrum is primarily involved in higher brain functions like thinking and decision-making. The medulla oblongata controls vital autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate. The thalamus serves as a relay station for sensory information before sending it to the cerebral cortex for further processing.

2. When you push a book across a table, the book experiences an equal and opposite force from the table. Why doesn't the table move as well?

A. The table is much heavier than the book.
B. The force on the book acts in a different direction.
C. The table has a much larger surface area, distributing the force over a wider area.
D. All of the above

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The table is much heavier than the book, so it requires a much larger force to accelerate it. The book is lighter and easier to move, so the force applied to it causes it to move without significantly affecting the table due to the table's greater mass. Newton's third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the force exerted on the book by the table is countered by an equal force exerted on the table by the book, but the table's greater mass resists movement. Choice B is incorrect because the forces are equal and opposite, acting in the same direction. Choice C is incorrect as the surface area does not affect the movement of the table in this scenario. Therefore, the correct answer is A, as the table's greater mass prevents it from moving easily when a force is applied.

3. What is the purpose of sodium bicarbonate when released into the lumen of the small intestine?

A. It works to chemically digest fats in the chyme.
B. It decreases the pH of the chyme to prevent harm to the intestine.
C. It works to chemically digest proteins in the chyme.
D. It increases the pH of the chyme to prevent harm to the intestine.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Sodium bicarbonate, when released into the lumen of the small intestine, functions to increase the pH of the acidic chyme coming from the stomach. This increase in pH helps neutralize the acidity of the chyme, creating a more optimal environment for the digestive enzymes in the small intestine to function properly. Maintaining a slightly basic pH in the small intestine is crucial for overall digestion and absorption of nutrients. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Sodium bicarbonate does not chemically digest fats or proteins in the chyme, and it does not decrease the pH of the chyme as it actually increases the pH to prevent harm to the intestine.

4. Blood type is a trait determined by multiple alleles, with IA and IB being co-dominant: IA codes for A blood and IB codes for B blood, while i codes for O blood and is recessive to both. If an A heterozygote individual and an O individual have a child, what is the probability that the child will have A blood?

A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 75%
D. 100%

Correct answer: B

Rationale: If an A heterozygote (IAi) and an O individual (ii) have a child, there is a 50% chance the child will inherit the IA allele and have A blood. The A heterozygote can pass on either the IA or i allele, while the O individual can only pass on the i allele. Therefore, the possible genotypes for the child are IAi (A blood) or ii (O blood), resulting in a 50% chance of the child having A blood. Choice A (25%) is incorrect as it does not take into account the possibility of inheriting the IA allele. Choice C (75%) and Choice D (100%) are incorrect as they overestimate the probability of the child having A blood.

5. What is the protective fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord called?

A. Blood
B. Cerebrospinal fluid
C. Plasma
D. Myelin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Cerebrospinal fluid is the protective fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It acts as a cushion to protect these vital organs from injury and provides nutrients to the nervous system. Blood, plasma, and myelin are not the fluids specifically surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Blood is found within blood vessels, plasma is the liquid component of blood, and myelin is a fatty substance that forms a protective sheath around nerve fibers.