Question

based on the scenario below, select the statement that accurately finishes the sentence. stacey has recently had a car accident and has lost her sense of taste as a result. it is most likely that she has ______. a. damaged her peripheral nervous system because the information regarding taste cannot be transmitted back to her brain b. damaged her central nervous system because the tongue is so close to the brain c. damaged her peripheral nervous system because this is typical for a spinal cord injury d. damaged her peripheral nervous system because it is responsible for basic body functions like breathing and taste please select the best answer from the choices provided. a b c d

Explanation:

• Option A: The peripheral nervous system (PNS) transmits sensory info (like taste) to the central nervous system (CNS, brain/spinal cord). If PNS is damaged, taste info can't reach the brain, causing loss of taste.
• Option B: The tongue's proximity to the brain doesn't mean CNS damage causes taste loss; taste sensory neurons are part of PNS.
• Option C: A car accident - related taste loss isn't typical of spinal cord injury (spinal cord is CNS, and spinal cord injuries don't usually affect taste directly).
• Option D: Basic body functions like breathing are controlled by CNS (brainstem), not PNS.

Answer:

A. damaged her peripheral nervous system because the information regarding taste cannot be transmitted back to her brain