Question

Charlotte sees Will, an old high school friend, at a party and is startled to learn his weight increased from 150 to 280 pounds in the year since he sustained a head injury in an automobile accident. Damage to which hypothalamic nucleus might account for Will’s weight gain?

A) anterior
B) dorsomedial
C) ventromedial
D) lateral

Answer 1

The correct answer will be option-C

Step-by-step explanation:

Ventromedial nucleus ( a cluster of neurons) of the hypothalamus is mainly involved with the satiety, sexual appetite and other important functions. The ventromedial nucleus contains a cluster of neurons which perform the same function.

Studies have shown that lesion in the ventromedial portion of the hypothalamus causes the habit of over-eating and obesity. Since after accident, Charlotte observed the increase in weight in a single year which could be due to injury of the nucleus of the ventromedial hypothalamus.

Thus, Option-C is the correct answer.