An animal that's experiencing a laryngospasm has its airway obstructed when which of the following occurs?
A. vocal folds and associated cartilage
and muscles close the glottis.
B. the soft palate covers palate
C. the hard palate covers the glottis
D. the epiglottis covers the glottis.
To determine the correct answer to the question, we need to understand what a laryngospasm is and how it affects the airway.
A laryngospasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the vocal cords, which are located in the larynx or voice box. This contraction can cause the airway to become obstructed, making it difficult or even impossible to breathe.
Now let's analyze each answer option:
A. vocal folds and associated cartilage and muscles close the glottis.
The glottis is the opening between the vocal folds in the larynx. In a laryngospasm, the vocal folds contract and close the glottis, causing airway obstruction. This option seems to correctly describe the process, so it could be the correct answer.
B. the soft palate covers the palate.
The soft palate is the posterior portion of the roof of the mouth, and it plays a role in closing off the nasal cavity during swallowing or speaking. However, it is not directly involved in closing the glottis during a laryngospasm. Therefore, this option is not accurate.
C. the hard palate covers the glottis.
The hard palate is the bony front part of the roof of the mouth. It does not have any role in closing the glottis during a laryngospasm. Hence, this option is incorrect.
D. the epiglottis covers the glottis.
The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage located at the base of the tongue, just above the larynx. It functions to cover the glottis and prevent food or liquid from entering the windpipe during swallowing. However, a laryngospasm does not involve the epiglottis covering the glottis. Thus, this option is also incorrect.
Based on the explanation above, the correct answer is:
A. vocal folds and associated cartilage and muscles close the glottis.