Question

When collecting a speciment for a throat culture, the medical assistant should swab which of the following structure?

A gums
B pharynx
C tongue
D buccal mucosa
E hard palate

Answer 1

For a throat culture, the pharynx should be swabbed as it is the primary site for harboring pathogens relevant to throat infections.

Step-by-step explanation:

When collecting a specimen for a throat culture, the medical assistant should swab the pharynx. This is the area most likely to harbor pathogens in cases of throat infections such as tonsillitis. The pharynx is a passageway for both air and food, and at the connection between the oral cavity and the oropharynx, you will find the fauces. Nearby are important lymphoid tissues—the palatine and lingual tonsils, which play a role in immune defense. Neither the gums, tongue, buccal mucosa, nor hard palate are the primary structures targeted for throat cultures.

Answer 2

For a throat culture, the medical assistant should swab the pharynx, as it is the most relevant area for collecting a specimen to identify infections like strep throat.

Step-by-step explanation:

When collecting a specimen for a throat culture, the medical assistant should swab the pharynx. The pharynx is a passageway for both air and food, bordered superiorly by the nasopharynx and anteriorly by the oral cavity. It is important to collect the sample from the pharynx because this area, which includes the fauces and tonsils, is where pathogenic bacteria responsible for infections like strep throat are most likely to be found. One should avoid swabbing structures like the gums, tongue, buccal mucosa, and hard palate, as these are not the primary sites for obtaining a throat culture.