Final answer:
Sensory neurons are affected by compression, leading to symptoms like paresthesia or anesthesia, while motor neurons are not typically directly affected.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason why only sensory neurons are affected by compression while motor neurons are not is due to the different functions and pathways of these two types of neurons.
Sensory neurons are responsible for transmitting information from sensory receptors in the body to the central nervous system (CNS), where it is processed and interpreted. These neurons are involved in the perception of various sensations such as pain, pressure, and temperature. When a body part is compressed, the sensory neurons in that area may be affected, leading to symptoms like paresthesia (tingling or numbness) or anesthesia (loss of sensation).
On the other hand, motor neurons are responsible for transmitting signals from the CNS to muscles and glands, allowing for movement and coordination. Compression of a body part for a short period of time does not typically directly affect the motor neurons. However, if there is severe damage or injury to the spinal cord or nerves, which contain both sensory and motor neurons, it can result in paralysis that affects both sensory and motor functions.