Practice Test Geeks(SLPA) Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Practice Test
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Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Flashcards

7 cards from real SLPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. What is the correct sequence of the three ossicles of the middle ear, from the tympanic membrane inward?

    Answer: Malleus, incus, stapes

    Sound vibrations travel from the tympanic membrane to the malleus, then the incus, then the stapes, which transmits vibration to the oval window of the cochlea.

  2. Which muscle is considered the primary muscle of respiration and provides air pressure support for speech?

    Answer: Diaphragm

    The diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration, contracting to increase lung volume and generating the air pressure needed to drive speech.

  3. The cochlea, responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals, is located in which part of the ear?

    Answer: Inner ear

    The cochlea is a fluid-filled, snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells (organ of Corti) which transduce mechanical vibrations into electrical impulses.

  4. Velopharyngeal closure during oral speech production prevents which outcome?

    Answer: Nasal air escape causing hypernasality

    Velopharyngeal closure seals the nasopharynx from the oropharynx, preventing air from escaping through the nose and causing hypernasality during oral sound production.

  5. The vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) carries which types of sensory information to the brain?

    Answer: Auditory and vestibular (balance) information

    CN VIII, the vestibulocochlear nerve, transmits both auditory signals from the cochlea and balance/spatial orientation information from the vestibular system.

  6. Which structures are classified as the primary articulators in the speech production system?

    Answer: Tongue, lips, teeth, and palate

    The primary articulators—tongue, lips, teeth, and palate—shape the vocal tract to produce specific speech sounds through their position and movement.

  7. Which structure serves as a shared pathway for both the respiratory and digestive systems, located posterior to the oral and nasal cavities?

    Answer: Pharynx

    The pharynx is the muscular tube that serves as a common conduit for air traveling to the larynx/trachea and food/liquid traveling to the esophagus.