Which structure in the ear is responsible for balance?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The semicircular canals in the inner ear are responsible for maintaining balance by detecting changes in head position and movement. These structures contain fluid and hair cells that send signals to the brain regarding the body's orientation in space, helping us stay balanced and navigate our surroundings. The cochlea is responsible for hearing, the ossicles are involved in sound transmission, and the Eustachian tube helps equalize pressure in the middle ear, but they are not directly related to balance.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: To store urine. The main function of the urinary bladder is to store urine produced by the kidneys before it is excreted from the body. It acts as a reservoir for urine until it is expelled during urination. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the urinary bladder does not filter blood, store or concentrate bile, or absorb nutrients. It is solely responsible for storing and releasing urine.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The lens of the eye is responsible for focusing light on the retina. When light enters the eye, it first passes through the cornea, which helps in bending the light, and then the lens further refracts and focuses the light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The retina contains photoreceptor cells that convert light into neural signals, which are then sent to the brain for visual processing. The cornea is the transparent outermost layer of the eye that helps in focusing light, but the main responsibility lies with the lens. The retina is the layer at the back of the eye that receives the focused light and initiates the process of vision. The pupil is the opening in the center of the iris that controls the amount of light entering the eye and is not directly involved in focusing light on the retina.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The cerebrum, specifically the motor cortex located within it, is responsible for controlling voluntary movements such as walking, writing, and speaking. This region of the brain plays a crucial role in coordinating and executing voluntary muscle actions, making it the correct answer in this context. The cerebellum (Choice A) primarily coordinates balance, posture, and coordination of voluntary movements but does not control voluntary movement itself. The brainstem (Choice C) is responsible for basic life functions like breathing and heart rate, not voluntary movements. The medulla oblongata (Choice D) controls vital functions like blood pressure and breathing, not voluntary movement.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The larynx is an essential organ of the respiratory system. It plays a crucial role in producing sound, protecting the trachea from food aspiration, and regulating the airflow to and from the lungs. The brain is part of the nervous system, the urethra is part of the urinary system, and the pancreas is part of the digestive system. Therefore, they are not directly related to the respiratory system's functions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. The thymus is not a principal organ of the nervous system; it is part of the immune system. The brain, spinal cord, and ganglia are principal organs of the nervous system. The brain is responsible for processing information, the spinal cord helps transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body, and ganglia are clusters of nerve cells that support the nervous system's functions. Therefore, the thymus is the correct answer as it is not directly involved in nervous system functions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hinge. A hinge joint, such as the one found at the elbow, allows for movement primarily in one plane, enabling flexion and extension similar to the movement of a door hinge. This joint structure permits bending and straightening of the arm, controlling the range of motion in a specific direction. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. A ball and socket joint allows for multi-axial movement like the hip joint, a pivot joint allows for rotation around an axis like the joint between the first and second cervical vertebrae, and a saddle joint allows for movement in two planes at right angles to each other like the joint at the base of the thumb.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The spleen plays a crucial role in the lymphatic system by filtering blood, specifically removing old or damaged red blood cells. Additionally, the spleen produces lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune response by helping to fight off infections. Therefore, the correct answer is A, as the spleen is primarily involved in blood filtration and the production of lymphocytes rather than storing vitamins or regulating body temperature.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To break down food. The stomach's primary function in digestion is to mechanically and chemically break down food. It achieves this by utilizing gastric acid and digestive enzymes to convert food into chyme, a semi-liquid mixture. The chyme is then passed to the small intestine for further processing and absorption of nutrients. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the stomach's main role is not to absorb nutrients, secrete digestive enzymes, or transport nutrients; instead, it primarily focuses on breaking down food.