ASHA Anatomy and Physiology of Communication 2

Question 1

In correct anatomical order from lateral (tympanic membrane) to medial (oval window), the three ossicles are:

Accepted Answer

Malleus, incus, stapes

Answer

Vibrations travel from the tympanic membrane to the malleus handle, then via the incudomallear joint to the incus, and finally through the incudostapedial joint to the stapes footplate at the oval window.

Question 2

Glottal fry (pulse register) is characterized by which pattern of vocal fold vibration?

Accepted Answer

Irregular, very low-frequency vibration producing a creaking quality

Answer

In pulse register (vocal fry), the vocal folds vibrate at irregular, very low rates (20–70 Hz), producing the characteristic popping or creaking sound quality.

Question 3

Broca's area, critical for speech motor programming and expressive language, is located in which brain region?

Accepted Answer

Inferior frontal gyrus of the left hemisphere

Answer

Broca's area occupies Brodmann areas 44 and 45 in the left inferior frontal gyrus (pars triangularis and pars opercularis), supporting speech motor planning and syntactic processing.

Question 4

The gag reflex afferent limb is carried by CN IX (Glossopharyngeal), while the efferent (motor) limb is primarily carried by which nerve?

Accepted Answer

CN X (Vagus)

Answer

CN IX provides sensory input from the posterior pharynx triggering the gag, while CN X (vagus) carries motor commands to the pharyngeal constrictors and soft palate to execute the reflex.

Question 5

Wernicke's area, associated with auditory language comprehension, is located in which brain region?

Accepted Answer

Left posterior superior temporal gyrus

Answer

Wernicke's area (Brodmann area 22) in the left posterior superior temporal gyrus is essential for decoding incoming speech and understanding language.

(ASHA) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certification Practice Test

(ASHA) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certification Practice Test

ASHA Anatomy and Physiology of Communication 2