Question

Which of the following locations could potentially result in skeletal muscle paralysis if damaged? (Choose all that apply!)

Group of answer choices

posterior horn

lateral horn

anterior horn

ascending tracts

descending tracts

Answer 1

Anterior horne cells are the cell bodies of axons that innervate muscles so their disease will lead to muscle paralysis (flaccid paralysis,because the muscles won't be able to contract at all).

Descending tracts have the neurons that connect the brain to the anterior horne cells (regulation of motor activities by brain), these are mostly inhibitory neurons,their disease will lead to loss of voluntary control over the muscles (hence we won't be able to perform any function with the muscles) but the lower motor neurons (anterior horne cells) are still active and even more active because the inhibitory influence of descending tracts is gone so the muscles will be even more active ,more contracted (spastic) but without our voluntary control,this is spastic paralysis.

So,the disease of these two locations will lead to paralysis.