Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

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Study for the Certified Surgical Technologist Exam. Prepare with multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Enhance your understanding and boost your confidence for acing the exam!

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A brain tumor causing alteration of muscle tone, voluntary muscle coordination, gait and balance would likely be located in the:

  1. Pons

  2. Medulla

  3. Cerebellum

  4. Diencephalon

The correct answer is: Cerebellum

The cerebellum is the region of the brain primarily responsible for coordinating voluntary muscle movements, maintaining balance, and regulating muscle tone. A tumor in the cerebellum can disrupt these functions, leading to symptoms such as altered muscle tone, impaired voluntary muscle coordination, and difficulties with gait and balance. This is due to the cerebellum's critical role in fine-tuning motor activities and ensuring smooth, coordinated movements. In contrast, the pons and medulla are involved in other functions such as breathing, heart rate, and communication between different parts of the brain, while the diencephalon serves as a relay center for sensory information and is involved in regulating sleep, hunger, and other autonomic functions. Tumors in those areas would not typically cause the specific alterations in muscle coordination and balance that are noted in the question. Thus, the presence of the described symptoms strongly indicates that the tumor is in the cerebellum.