Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the EMT Intermediate Exam. Access detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions that come with hints and explanations. Prepare comprehensively for your EMT certification!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the function of the vagus nerve in relation to the organs it serves?

It stimulates sympathetic responses
It regulates heart rate
It carries parasympathetic fibers to the thoracic and abdominal organs
It solely controls digestive processes

The correct answer is: It carries parasympathetic fibers to the thoracic and abdominal organs

The vagus nerve is a crucial component of the autonomic nervous system, specifically part of the parasympathetic system. Its primary function is to carry parasympathetic fibers to various thoracic and abdominal organs, which helps regulate involuntary bodily functions. This includes controlling heart rate, promoting digestion, and managing the respiratory rate among other functions. By sending signals to organs such as the heart, lungs, and digestive tract, the vagus nerve plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis. For example, activation of the vagus nerve can lead to a decrease in heart rate, increased digestive activity, and a relaxation response in various organ systems. The other options presented do not accurately encapsulate the comprehensive role of the vagus nerve. While the vagus nerve can influence heart rate and digestive processes, its overarching function is to facilitate parasympathetic control over a wide range of thoracic and abdominal organs as a whole rather than solely focusing on one specific activity or organ response.