SHS 250 Final Exam | Practice
Questions & Answers | Complete Study
Guide & Comprehensive Review.
Q1: Which laryngeal cartilage forms a complete ring and sits directly above the trachea?
A. Thyroid
B. Hyoid
C. Cricoid [CORRECT]
D. Arytenoid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The cricoid is the only complete ring-shaped cartilage of the larynx and articulates
superiorly with the thyroid and inferiorly with the trachea. The thyroid is shield-shaped, the
hyoid is a bone (not a cartilage), and the arytenoids are paired cartilages that move the vocal
folds.
Q2: The primary muscle of inspiration is the:
A. Internal intercostals
B. External intercostals
C. Diaphragm [CORRECT]
D. Sternocleidomastoid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The diaphragm contracts and descends to increase thoracic volume during quiet
inspiration. Internal intercostals are primarily expiratory, external intercostals assist
,inspiration but are secondary, and the sternocleidomastoid is an accessory muscle used
mainly in forced breathing.
Q3: Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for motor innervation of the tongue?
A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Facial (VII)
C. Vagus (X)
D. Hypoglossal (XII) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cranial nerve XII provides motor innervation to all intrinsic and most extrinsic
tongue muscles. CN V innervates jaw muscles, CN VII controls facial expression and lip
movement, and CN X innervates the larynx and pharynx.
Q4: Velopharyngeal closure is primarily achieved by elevation of the:
A. Tongue tip
B. Soft palate (velum) [CORRECT]
C. Epiglottis
D. Hyoid bone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The soft palate elevates and retracts to contact the posterior pharyngeal wall,
separating the oral and nasal cavities during speech and swallowing. The tongue tip,
epiglottis, and hyoid do not perform this primary sealing function.
Q5: Which paired cartilages are responsible for abduction and adduction of the vocal folds?
A. Thyroid
B. Cricoid
C. Arytenoid [CORRECT]
D. Corniculate
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The arytenoid cartilages rock, glide, and rotate on the cricoid to open and close the
glottis. The thyroid and cricoid provide structural support, while the corniculates sit atop the
arytenoids but do not drive vocal-fold movement.
Q6: Cranial nerve VII (facial) primarily contributes to speech by controlling:
A. Jaw opening and closing
B. Lip and facial muscle movement [CORRECT]
C. Vocal-fold tension
D. Tongue protrusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CN VII innervates the muscles of facial expression, including those that shape the
lips for bilabial and labiodental sounds. Jaw movement is CN V, vocal-fold tension is largely CN
X, and tongue protrusion is CN XII.
Q7: The only bone in the laryngeal framework is the:
A. Thyroid
B. Cricoid
C. Hyoid [CORRECT]
D. Arytenoid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hyoid is a free-floating bone that serves as an attachment point for laryngeal
and tongue muscles. All other listed structures are cartilages.
Q8: Intrinsic tongue muscles primarily control:
A. Tongue position in the oral cavity
B. Tongue shape and fine movements [CORRECT]
C. Jaw elevation
D. Soft-palate elevation
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Intrinsic muscles (superior/inferior longitudinal, transverse, vertical) alter tongue
shape for articulation. Extrinsic muscles primarily change tongue position; jaw and soft-palate
movements are controlled by other muscle groups.
Q9: Which cranial nerve provides sensory innervation to the larynx and motor innervation for
vocal-fold adduction?
A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Glossopharyngeal (IX)
C. Vagus (X) [CORRECT]
D. Hypoglossal (XII)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The vagus nerve (via superior and recurrent laryngeal branches) supplies both
sensation and motor control to the larynx. CN V is primarily jaw, CN IX is pharyngeal sensation
and stylopharyngeus, and CN XII is tongue motor.
Q10: During production of oral pressure consonants, failure of velopharyngeal closure
typically results in:
A. Hypernasality and nasal emission [CORRECT]
B. Hyponasality
C. Glottal fry
D. Breathiness only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Incomplete velopharyngeal closure allows air to escape into the nasal cavity,
producing hypernasality and audible nasal emission on pressure consonants. Hyponasality
occurs with nasal obstruction; glottal fry and isolated breathiness are laryngeal issues.
Q11: The thyroid cartilage is commonly known as the:
A. Adam’s apple [CORRECT]
B. Ring cartilage
C. Floating bone
D. Vocal-fold cartilage
Questions & Answers | Complete Study
Guide & Comprehensive Review.
Q1: Which laryngeal cartilage forms a complete ring and sits directly above the trachea?
A. Thyroid
B. Hyoid
C. Cricoid [CORRECT]
D. Arytenoid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The cricoid is the only complete ring-shaped cartilage of the larynx and articulates
superiorly with the thyroid and inferiorly with the trachea. The thyroid is shield-shaped, the
hyoid is a bone (not a cartilage), and the arytenoids are paired cartilages that move the vocal
folds.
Q2: The primary muscle of inspiration is the:
A. Internal intercostals
B. External intercostals
C. Diaphragm [CORRECT]
D. Sternocleidomastoid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The diaphragm contracts and descends to increase thoracic volume during quiet
inspiration. Internal intercostals are primarily expiratory, external intercostals assist
,inspiration but are secondary, and the sternocleidomastoid is an accessory muscle used
mainly in forced breathing.
Q3: Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for motor innervation of the tongue?
A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Facial (VII)
C. Vagus (X)
D. Hypoglossal (XII) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cranial nerve XII provides motor innervation to all intrinsic and most extrinsic
tongue muscles. CN V innervates jaw muscles, CN VII controls facial expression and lip
movement, and CN X innervates the larynx and pharynx.
Q4: Velopharyngeal closure is primarily achieved by elevation of the:
A. Tongue tip
B. Soft palate (velum) [CORRECT]
C. Epiglottis
D. Hyoid bone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The soft palate elevates and retracts to contact the posterior pharyngeal wall,
separating the oral and nasal cavities during speech and swallowing. The tongue tip,
epiglottis, and hyoid do not perform this primary sealing function.
Q5: Which paired cartilages are responsible for abduction and adduction of the vocal folds?
A. Thyroid
B. Cricoid
C. Arytenoid [CORRECT]
D. Corniculate
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The arytenoid cartilages rock, glide, and rotate on the cricoid to open and close the
glottis. The thyroid and cricoid provide structural support, while the corniculates sit atop the
arytenoids but do not drive vocal-fold movement.
Q6: Cranial nerve VII (facial) primarily contributes to speech by controlling:
A. Jaw opening and closing
B. Lip and facial muscle movement [CORRECT]
C. Vocal-fold tension
D. Tongue protrusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CN VII innervates the muscles of facial expression, including those that shape the
lips for bilabial and labiodental sounds. Jaw movement is CN V, vocal-fold tension is largely CN
X, and tongue protrusion is CN XII.
Q7: The only bone in the laryngeal framework is the:
A. Thyroid
B. Cricoid
C. Hyoid [CORRECT]
D. Arytenoid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hyoid is a free-floating bone that serves as an attachment point for laryngeal
and tongue muscles. All other listed structures are cartilages.
Q8: Intrinsic tongue muscles primarily control:
A. Tongue position in the oral cavity
B. Tongue shape and fine movements [CORRECT]
C. Jaw elevation
D. Soft-palate elevation
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Intrinsic muscles (superior/inferior longitudinal, transverse, vertical) alter tongue
shape for articulation. Extrinsic muscles primarily change tongue position; jaw and soft-palate
movements are controlled by other muscle groups.
Q9: Which cranial nerve provides sensory innervation to the larynx and motor innervation for
vocal-fold adduction?
A. Trigeminal (V)
B. Glossopharyngeal (IX)
C. Vagus (X) [CORRECT]
D. Hypoglossal (XII)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The vagus nerve (via superior and recurrent laryngeal branches) supplies both
sensation and motor control to the larynx. CN V is primarily jaw, CN IX is pharyngeal sensation
and stylopharyngeus, and CN XII is tongue motor.
Q10: During production of oral pressure consonants, failure of velopharyngeal closure
typically results in:
A. Hypernasality and nasal emission [CORRECT]
B. Hyponasality
C. Glottal fry
D. Breathiness only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Incomplete velopharyngeal closure allows air to escape into the nasal cavity,
producing hypernasality and audible nasal emission on pressure consonants. Hyponasality
occurs with nasal obstruction; glottal fry and isolated breathiness are laryngeal issues.
Q11: The thyroid cartilage is commonly known as the:
A. Adam’s apple [CORRECT]
B. Ring cartilage
C. Floating bone
D. Vocal-fold cartilage
