Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Test with focused study methods including flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Practice with hints and detailed explanations to boost your readiness for the exam.

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!

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If a person places their hand on a hot stove, what happens immediately?

The sensory nerve sends a message to the brain
The sensory nerve bypasses the brain and sends a message to the motor nerve
The brain processes the pain and initiates a response
The pain sensation is ignored due to shock

The correct answer is: The sensory nerve bypasses the brain and sends a message to the motor nerve

When a person places their hand on a hot stove, the correct immediate response involves a reflex action that bypasses the brain. The sensory nerve detects the extreme heat and sends an immediate signal to the spinal cord. In this reflex arc, the signal does not go through the brain at first; instead, it directly stimulates the motor nerve to initiate a quick withdrawal of the hand from the hot surface. This rapid response is crucial for protecting the body from harm and minimizes injury by providing a swift reaction before the brain can fully process the pain sensation. Thus, the action occurs without the conscious involvement of the brain at that moment, allowing for a fast protective reflex. This is a fundamental aspect of how the body reacts to potentially harmful stimuli.