EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY
MANUAL
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)WILLIAM BEAM, GENE
ADAMS
TEST BANK
1) CNS vs PNS localization
Reference: Ch. 1 — General Organization — CNS vs PNS
Stem:
A 58-year-old man develops progressive numbness and burning
pain in both feet after years of poorly controlled diabetes. On
exam, ankle reflexes are reduced, and pinprick sensation is
diminished in a stocking distribution. Strength is preserved
proximally. Where is the most likely site of pathology?
Options:
A. Brain cortex
,B. Peripheral nerves
C. Cerebellum
D. Dorsal columns of the spinal cord
Correct Answer: B. Peripheral nerves
Rationales:
Correct Answer: Diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy
affects the peripheral nerves, producing distal sensory loss and
reduced reflexes in a length-dependent pattern. The stocking
distribution and areflexia strongly localize the process to the
PNS rather than the brain or spinal cord.
A: Cortical lesions usually produce focal contralateral motor
and sensory deficits, not symmetric distal stocking loss.
C: Cerebellar disease causes incoordination, ataxia, and
dysmetria, not peripheral sensory loss with depressed ankle
jerks.
D: Dorsal column lesions cause loss of vibration and
proprioception with sensory ataxia, but the pattern here is
more typical of peripheral neuropathy.
Teaching Point: Distal symmetric sensory loss with areflexia
localizes to the peripheral nerves.
Citation: Goldberg, S. (2022). Clinical Neuroanatomy Made
Ridiculously Simple (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Sensory root lesion
,Reference: Ch. 1 — General Organization — Dorsal vs Ventral
Roots
Stem:
After a herniated disc compresses a spinal nerve root, a patient
loses pain and temperature sensation over a narrow strip of
skin on the lateral leg. Motor strength is normal. Which
structure is most likely affected?
Options:
A. Ventral root
B. Dorsal root
C. Anterior horn cell
D. Corticospinal tract
Correct Answer: B. Dorsal root
Rationales:
Correct Answer: The dorsal root carries sensory afferent
fibers into the spinal cord. Compression can cause segmental
sensory loss without weakness because motor fibers travel in
the ventral root.
A: Ventral root injury causes weakness and LMN signs, not
isolated sensory loss.
C: Anterior horn cell disease produces weakness, atrophy,
and fasciculations, with preserved sensation.
D: Corticospinal tract injury causes UMN weakness below
the lesion, not a narrow dermatomal sensory deficit.
, Teaching Point: Sensory-only radicular symptoms point to the
dorsal root.
Citation: Goldberg, S. (2022). Clinical Neuroanatomy Made
Ridiculously Simple (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Ventral root lesion
Reference: Ch. 1 — General Organization — Motor Outflow
Stem:
A patient with a spinal root injury has focal weakness in ankle
dorsiflexion, reduced tone, and visible muscle wasting in the
affected myotome. Sensation is intact. Which structure is most
likely damaged?
Options:
A. Dorsal root
B. Ventral root
C. Posterior column
D. Spinothalamic tract
Correct Answer: B. Ventral root
Rationales:
Correct Answer: The ventral root contains motor efferent
fibers. Its injury produces lower motor neuron weakness,
hypotonia, atrophy, and reduced reflexes without sensory loss.
A: Dorsal root injury would cause sensory loss, not isolated
LMN weakness.
MANUAL
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)WILLIAM BEAM, GENE
ADAMS
TEST BANK
1) CNS vs PNS localization
Reference: Ch. 1 — General Organization — CNS vs PNS
Stem:
A 58-year-old man develops progressive numbness and burning
pain in both feet after years of poorly controlled diabetes. On
exam, ankle reflexes are reduced, and pinprick sensation is
diminished in a stocking distribution. Strength is preserved
proximally. Where is the most likely site of pathology?
Options:
A. Brain cortex
,B. Peripheral nerves
C. Cerebellum
D. Dorsal columns of the spinal cord
Correct Answer: B. Peripheral nerves
Rationales:
Correct Answer: Diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy
affects the peripheral nerves, producing distal sensory loss and
reduced reflexes in a length-dependent pattern. The stocking
distribution and areflexia strongly localize the process to the
PNS rather than the brain or spinal cord.
A: Cortical lesions usually produce focal contralateral motor
and sensory deficits, not symmetric distal stocking loss.
C: Cerebellar disease causes incoordination, ataxia, and
dysmetria, not peripheral sensory loss with depressed ankle
jerks.
D: Dorsal column lesions cause loss of vibration and
proprioception with sensory ataxia, but the pattern here is
more typical of peripheral neuropathy.
Teaching Point: Distal symmetric sensory loss with areflexia
localizes to the peripheral nerves.
Citation: Goldberg, S. (2022). Clinical Neuroanatomy Made
Ridiculously Simple (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Sensory root lesion
,Reference: Ch. 1 — General Organization — Dorsal vs Ventral
Roots
Stem:
After a herniated disc compresses a spinal nerve root, a patient
loses pain and temperature sensation over a narrow strip of
skin on the lateral leg. Motor strength is normal. Which
structure is most likely affected?
Options:
A. Ventral root
B. Dorsal root
C. Anterior horn cell
D. Corticospinal tract
Correct Answer: B. Dorsal root
Rationales:
Correct Answer: The dorsal root carries sensory afferent
fibers into the spinal cord. Compression can cause segmental
sensory loss without weakness because motor fibers travel in
the ventral root.
A: Ventral root injury causes weakness and LMN signs, not
isolated sensory loss.
C: Anterior horn cell disease produces weakness, atrophy,
and fasciculations, with preserved sensation.
D: Corticospinal tract injury causes UMN weakness below
the lesion, not a narrow dermatomal sensory deficit.
, Teaching Point: Sensory-only radicular symptoms point to the
dorsal root.
Citation: Goldberg, S. (2022). Clinical Neuroanatomy Made
Ridiculously Simple (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Ventral root lesion
Reference: Ch. 1 — General Organization — Motor Outflow
Stem:
A patient with a spinal root injury has focal weakness in ankle
dorsiflexion, reduced tone, and visible muscle wasting in the
affected myotome. Sensation is intact. Which structure is most
likely damaged?
Options:
A. Dorsal root
B. Ventral root
C. Posterior column
D. Spinothalamic tract
Correct Answer: B. Ventral root
Rationales:
Correct Answer: The ventral root contains motor efferent
fibers. Its injury produces lower motor neuron weakness,
hypotonia, atrophy, and reduced reflexes without sensory loss.
A: Dorsal root injury would cause sensory loss, not isolated
LMN weakness.
