A 23-year-old man who recently had a head injury from a motor vehicle

A 23-year-old man who recently had a head injury from a motor vehicle accident (MVA) is in a state of unconsciousness. Which of the following physiological adaptations is primarily responsi-ble for his level of consciousness?

1. Pituitary gland
2. Medulla oblongata
3. Reticular formation
4. External stress response

ANSWER

ANS: 3
The reticular formation is primarily responsible for an individual’s level of consciousness. The pi-tuitary gland supplies hormones that control vital functions. The pituitary gland produces hor-mones necessary for adaptation to stress (e.g., adrenocorticotropic hormone). The medulla ob-longata controls vital functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. The external stress response is not primarily responsible for a person’s level of consciousness.