Biology Digestion/Nutrition DUHS 2022
PMDC Verified Question 24 of 48
Bolus enters the esophagus/not the trachea due to presence of:
A
Roof palate
B
Mouth
C
Epiglottis
D
Buccal cavity
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option C: Epiglottis
Concept:

The swallowing mechanism requires a strict separation of the digestive and respiratory pathways at the pharynx.

Formula:

N/A

Solution:

  • The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped cartilaginous flap situated at the top of the larynx.
  • During swallowing, it acts as a mechanical lid, closing off the glottis (tracheal opening) so the food bolus slides smoothly into the esophagus.


Why other options are incorrect:

The roof of the palate separates the nasal and oral cavities, while the mouth and buccal cavity are spaces where mastication occurs, not the valve controlling the airway.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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