GED Science Practice

What is the function of the "Pharynx"?

1. a) Providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus

2. b) Synthesizing compounds in plants

3. c) Moving small celestial bodies around the sun

4. d) Passage to the stomach and lungs

The correct answer is: d) Passage to the stomach and lungs

The pharynx serves as an essential passageway in the human body, connecting the mouth and nasal passages to both the stomach and the lungs. This structure plays a crucial role in the digestive and respiratory systems. In the process of swallowing, the pharynx directs food and liquids from the mouth into the esophagus, while simultaneously allowing air to pass from the nasal cavity into the larynx and down into the lungs. This dual function highlights how the pharynx is integral for both breathing and digestion. The other options pertain to functions that are not related to the human pharynx. The first choice concerning providing oxygen and nutrients to a fetus relates to the placenta, while synthesizing compounds in plants connects to photosynthesis occurring in chloroplasts. The movement of celestial bodies around the sun pertains to gravitational dynamics in astronomy, unrelated to human anatomy.