Which statement about the insect thorax is true?

• A. Contains the brain
• B. Functions in digestion
• C. Primary sensing
• D. Provides structural support for the three pairs of legs on the body and, if present, for one or two pairs of wings

Answer: (D)

The thorax is the locomotion hub of an insect, anchoring the muscles that move its body. Three pairs of legs attach to the thorax (one pair on each thoracic segment), and, when present, wings attach to the mesothorax and metathorax. This structural setup is exactly why the thorax provides the necessary support for all three pairs of legs and for wings, making that statement true.

The brain and primary sensing organs are located in the head, not the thorax, so the thorax isn’t the main center for sensing. Digestion happens in the digestive tract (foregut, midgut, and hindgut), not in the thorax, so the thorax isn’t primarily involved in digestion.