A patient develops a small bleed near the base of the brain. Doctors think that the resulting pressure is affecting either the medulla oblongata or the cerebellum.
| Measurement | Before the pressure increased | 20 minutes later |
|---|---|---|
| breathing rate in breaths per minute | 16 | 8 |
| accurate fingertip touches of a target in 10 attempts | 9 | 9 |
Explain which brain region is more likely to be affected and why the patient's condition could rapidly become fatal. Use the information in the table.
111 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Biology 2.3 The nervous system and brain, covering 2.3.1 Structures and functions of the brain, 2.3.2 Imaging brain function with scanning, 2.3.3 Limitations in treating nervous system damage, 2.3.4 Neurones and impulse transmission, and 2.3.5 Structure and function of a reflex arc. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.