What is the technical term for the free edges of your fingernails and toenails?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, hyponychium. The hyponychium is the skin under the free edge of the nail, responsible for sealing the nail to the fingertip and protecting the nail bed from bacteria and debris. The lunula (choice A) refers to the white crescent moon shape at the base of the nail. The matrix (choice B) is the area under the nail where new nail cells are produced. The free edge (choice D) is the part of the nail that extends beyond the fingertip or toe.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Calcium phosphate is the main component that gives bones their rigidity and hardness. It combines with calcium hydroxide to form hydroxyapatite crystals, which provide strength and structure to bones. Collagen, on the other hand, provides flexibility and tensile strength. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue found in joints, and ligaments are fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones, but they do not contribute to the rigidity and hardness of bones.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Smooth muscle is the correct answer. It is found in the walls of blood vessels and helps regulate blood flow by contracting and relaxing to adjust the diameter of the vessels. Skeletal muscle, found attached to bones, is responsible for voluntary movements and is not typically found in blood vessel walls. Cardiac muscle is specific to the heart and responsible for pumping blood, not found in blood vessel walls. Striated muscle, another term for skeletal muscle, is characterized by its striped appearance under a microscope but is not present in blood vessel walls.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The nervous system is responsible for detecting touch (option A), regulating body temperature (option B), and controlling muscle movement (option D). Producing insulin (option C) is a function of the endocrine system, which produces hormones like insulin to regulate metabolism and glucose levels. Therefore, option C is the correct answer as it is not a function of the nervous system.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decreased heart rate and body temperature. A malfunctioning thyroid gland that produces abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones leads to hypothyroidism, resulting in decreased metabolic activity. This reduction in metabolic rate can cause a decreased heart rate and lower body temperature. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because hypothyroidism typically manifests as symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, bradycardia, and decreased body temperature, rather than increased energy levels, enhanced muscle growth, faster metabolism, or heightened alertness.