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Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System
Hoehn - Marieb Human Anatomy & Physiology, 12th edition
Hoehn, Haynes, Abbott12th EditionMarieb Human Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780138242732Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 12, Problem 12

A patient has suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that has caused dysfunction of the precentral gyrus of his right cerebral cortex. As a result:
a. He cannot voluntarily move his left arm or leg.
b. He feels no sensation on the left side of his body.
c. He feels no sensation on his right side.

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1
Step 1: Identify the function of the precentral gyrus. The precentral gyrus is the primary motor cortex responsible for voluntary motor control of the contralateral side of the body.
Step 2: Understand the lateralization of brain function. The right cerebral cortex controls voluntary movements on the left side of the body, and the left cerebral cortex controls the right side.
Step 3: Analyze the symptoms related to motor function. Since the patient cannot voluntarily move his left arm or leg, this aligns with damage to the right precentral gyrus affecting motor control on the left side.
Step 4: Consider the sensory symptoms. The precentral gyrus is primarily motor, so loss of sensation (which is processed in the postcentral gyrus) on the left side is unlikely to be caused by damage to the precentral gyrus.
Step 5: Conclude which symptoms are consistent with the lesion. The inability to move the left side voluntarily (a) is expected, but loss of sensation on either side (b or c) is not directly caused by precentral gyrus dysfunction.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Precentral Gyrus and Motor Function

The precentral gyrus, located in the frontal lobe, is the primary motor cortex responsible for voluntary movement control. Damage to this area disrupts motor commands, leading to paralysis or weakness on the opposite side of the body due to the crossing of motor pathways.
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Primary Motor Cortex & Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Contralateral Control of the Body

Each cerebral hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. Therefore, injury to the right precentral gyrus affects motor function on the left side, explaining why voluntary movement of the left arm and leg would be impaired.
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Levels of Control in the ANS

Distinction Between Motor and Sensory Functions

The precentral gyrus is involved in motor control, not sensory perception. Sensory information is processed in the postcentral gyrus; thus, damage to the precentral gyrus does not cause loss of sensation, only motor deficits.
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Functional Groups
Related Practice
Textbook Question

a. What is the function of the basal nuclei?

b. Which basal nuclei form the striatum?

c. Which arches over the diencephalon?

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Textbook Question

All of the following descriptions refer to dorsal column–medial lemniscal ascending pathways except one:

a. They include the fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus.

b. They include a chain of three neurons.

c. Their connections are diffuse and poorly localized.

d. They are concerned with precise transmission of one or a few related types of sensory input.

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Textbook Question

What constitutes the blood brain barrier?

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Textbook Question

List four ways in which the CNS is protected.

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Textbook Question

A number of brain structures are listed below. If an area is primarily gray matter, write a in the answer blank; if mostly white matter, respond with b

________  (1) cerebral cortex 

________   (2) corpus callosum and corona radiata 

________   (3) red nucleus 

________   (4) medial and lateral nuclear groups 

________   (5) medial lemniscus 

________   (6) cranial nerve nuclei 

________   (7) spinothalamic tract 

________   (8) fornix 

________  (9) cingulate and precentral gyri

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Textbook Question

a. What is the advantage of having a cerebrum that is highly convoluted?

b. What term is used to indicate its grooves? Its outward folds?

c. Which groove divides the cerebrum into two hemispheres?

d. What divides the parietal from the frontal lobe? The parietal from the temporal lobe?

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