Question

A patient suffers damage to the nervous system. He can move his hands, but he does not feel anything with them. Which explanation is the neurologist most likely to offer?

a. Damage to the sensory cortex
b. Damage to the motor cortex
c. Damage to the cerebellum
d. Damage to the brainstem

Answer 1

The neurologist would likely explain the inability to feel anything with the hands but retained movement as damage to the sensory cortex, which processes tactile sensations from the body.

Step-by-step explanation:

When examining a patient who can move their hands but cannot feel anything with them, the neurologist would likely consider damage to the nervous system. Since motor functions are intact, this rules out damage to the motor cortex. Meanwhile, the intact ability to move the hands indicates that the cerebellum and motor pathways are likely not affected, which also rules out damage to the cerebellum and motor cortex.

The lack of sensory perception points towards possible damage to the sensory cortex as the sensory cortex is responsible for processing tactile sensory input from the body. Since the cerebellum is not primarily involved with sensation, and the brainstem damage would typically present with more severe symptoms including problems with vital functions, these are less likely options. Thus, the most likely explanation is a. Damage to the sensory cortex.