Final answer:
Damage to and disease of the nervous system can lead to loss of function that depends on the location of the injury. Acute injuries like strokes may cause specific function loss, while broader effects from infections or developmental disorders may result in general losses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Damage to and disease of the nervous system lead to loss of function. The location of the injury will correspond to the functional loss, as suggested by the principle of localization of function. The neurological exam provides the opportunity for a clinician to determine where damage has occurred on the basis of the function that is lost. Damage from acute injuries such as strokes may result in specific functions being lost, whereas broader effects in infection or developmental disorders may result in general losses across an entire section of the neurological exam.