Question

If the ventral root of a spinal nerve were cut, what would be the result in the tissue or region that nerve supplies?

a. a complete loss of voluntary movement
b. complete loss of sensation
c. loss of neither sensation nor movement but only of autonomic control
d. a complete loss of sensation and movement

Answer 1

a. a complete loss of voluntary movement

Step-by-step explanation:

Spinal nerves serve as the paths of communication between the spinal cord and specific regions of the body. Roots refer to the bundles of axons that serve to connect each spinal nerve to a segment of the spinal cord via smaller bundles of axons called rootlets. The ventral root also called the anterior root and the associated rootlets contain axons of motor neurons.

These motor neurons of ventral root conduct nerve impulses from the CNS to effector organs. Muscles and glands are the effector organs. As these effector organs receive motor information, voluntary movements are generated. If the ventral root of the spinal nerve were cut, the effector organs will not get the motor information and no voluntary movements will be generated.