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

Explanation:

• Option A: The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes sensory neurons that transmit taste information to the brain. If the PNS is damaged, taste signals can't reach the brain, causing taste loss.
• Option B: The central nervous system (CNS) is the brain and spinal cord. Taste perception involves PNS (sensory nerves from tongue to CNS), not direct CNS damage due to tongue - brain proximity.
• Option C: A spinal cord injury (CNS - related) typically affects motor/sensory functions of limbs/trunk, not taste (which is from the tongue, innervated by PNS), so this is incorrect.
• Option D: Basic body functions like breathing are controlled by the CNS (brainstem), not the PNS. So this is wrong.

Answer:

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