Question

1. If the anterior root of a spinal nerve were destroyed, a person would lose:

   		sensory perception related to that pathway.
   		motor output related to that pathway.
   		reflex activity only, related to that pathway.
   		both reflex activity and sensation related to that pathway.

Answer 1

Spinal nerve consists of dorsal root and ventral root. These are also known as posterior root and anterior root respectively. Posterior root is involved in the transmission of sensory information and anterior root is involved in the the transmission of motor impulses. Reflex arc consist of both anterior and posterior roots. So if there is a damage to the anterior root of spinal nerve, both the motor activity related to that pathway and reflex activity are impaired.