Question

Which cortex supports skilled Hand Use, as mentioned in the presentation?

a) Cerebellar cortex
b) Temporal cortex
c) Motor cortex
d) Occipital cortex

Answer 1

The motor cortex, particularly the primary motor cortex located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for skilled hand use, as it controls fine, agile movements through its topographical representation of the body.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cortex that supports skilled hand use, as referred to in the presentation, is the motor cortex. Specifically, the primary motor cortex, which is arranged in a topographical map of the body known as the motor homunculus, allocates a significant amount of cortical space to the muscles responsible for fine, agile movements. These include the muscles of the fingers, which are located in the lateral face of the precentral gyrus. The motor cortex is part of the frontal lobe, which is responsible for motor functions and is contrasted with sensory functions that are localized in the occipital, temporal, and parietal lobes. Descending pathways from the motor neurons in the motor cortex target the lower motor neurons, which subsequently influence skeletal muscle to produce movement.