Polio neurologic impact is primarily the damage of which cells?

• A. Anterior horn cells
• B. Cerebellar Purkinje cells
• C. Dorsal root ganglion
• D. Basal ganglia neurons

Answer: (A)

Poliovirus primarily damages motor neurons in the spinal cord, specifically the anterior horn cells. These cells are the lower motor neurons whose bodies reside in the ventral gray matter and form the final common pathway to muscles. When they are destroyed, muscles lose their neural input, leading to flaccid paralysis, decreased reflexes, fasciculations, and atrophy, while sensation is usually preserved. The other options involve neural populations that, if damaged, produce different symptoms (Purkinje cells affect coordination, dorsal root ganglion would cause sensory issues, and basal ganglia involvement leads to movement disorders), not the acute LMN weakness seen in polio. Therefore, the anterior horn cells are the primary targets.