Final answer:
A patient who becomes unresponsive and needs ventilatory assistance loses control over their airway muscles, requiring external support for breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient becomes unresponsive and requires ventilatory assistance, they lose A. control over airway muscles. This is because both voluntary and involuntary muscles that support respiration are compromised. Conscious control of the airway muscles and the ability to breath independently are lost, necessitating external assistance such as ventilation. Unconscious control of breathing is maintained by the respiratory centers in the medulla and pons of the brainstem, which manage the unconscious aspect of breathing. Additionally, during general anesthesia, muscles required for breathing and moving the tongue are impacted, leading to potential blockage of the airway, which is why endotracheal intubation is used to maintain an open airway to the lungs.