Question

which part of the body is located in the throat and guards the trachea entrance to prevent fluid and food from entering it when a person swallows?
○ a. lumen
○ b. epiglottis
○ c. ileum
○ d. pyloric sphincter

Explanation:

The epiglottis is a flap of tissue located in the throat. Its main function is to cover the trachea (wind - pipe) entrance during swallowing. This prevents food, liquid, or other substances from entering the trachea and going into the lungs.

• The lumen is a general term for the internal space of a tubular structure (like a blood vessel or a part of the digestive tract), not a structure that guards the trachea.
• The ileum is the final part of the small intestine, which is involved in digestion and absorption, not in the swallowing - related trachea - guarding function.
• The pyloric sphincter is a valve between the stomach and the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), controlling the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine.

Answer:

B. Epiglottis