Q1. [2] medium exam-ready
A patient is unable to maintain balance while walking and stumbles frequently, even though his leg muscles are healthy. Which part of the brain is likely damaged? Justify your answer.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 01:01 · grounding rag
Model Answer
The cerebellum (part of the hind-brain) is likely damaged.
Justification: The cerebellum is responsible for precision of voluntary actions and maintaining the posture and balance of the body. Since the patient stumbles and cannot maintain balance despite healthy leg muscles, the cerebellum must be malfunctioning.
Source: Human Brain, Chapter 6
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Explanation
- Always name the specific part (cerebellum, not just "hind-brain") for full credit.
- The justification must link the function of the cerebellum (posture and balance) directly to the symptom described (stumbling, loss of balance).
- Mentioning that leg muscles are healthy rules out a muscular problem — the fault lies in coordination, which points to the cerebellum. This logical link earns the second mark.