One Week After the Onset of a Stroke,a Clinician Examines

Multiple Choice

One week after the onset of a stroke,a clinician examines a patient's oral cavity,and finds the palate does not elevate upon the phonation of "ah." Why does the examiner then test the gag reflex?

A) An intact gag reflex means that cranial nerves IX and X are functioning.
B) The lack of a gag reflex will tell the examiner there is an upper motor neuron lesion.
C) The absence of a gag reflex will tell the examiner that the patient has both upper and lower motor neuron lesions.
D) If the gag reflex is intact,the lesion is limited to the lower motor neuron.