If a muscle is resected what happens?
**Core Concept:** Muscle is a tissue that forms skeletal muscles responsible for body movements, posture, and maintaining body structure. Resecting a muscle means removing a portion of it surgically.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:** When a muscle is resected, the affected muscle loses its function. The piece of the muscle removed is gone forever, and the remaining parts of the muscle may not be able to perform the specific function of the resected portion. This loss of function can lead to weakness and potential deformity.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
A. **Option A:** Resection of a muscle does not eliminate the muscle completely. Even if a significant portion is removed, the remaining parts of the muscle still contain muscle fibers that can contract and contribute to overall muscle strength.
B. **Option B:** Removing a muscle does not cause the adjacent muscles to compensate for the lost function. Each muscle has its specific function and cannot be replaced by another muscle.
C. **Option C:** Loss of muscle function is not solely due to the resected portion becoming a fat pad. The primary concern is the loss of muscle fibers and their ability to contract, which results in muscle weakness.
D. **Option D:** Removing a muscle does not prevent the adjacent nerves from innervating (stimulating) the remaining muscle fibers, so the loss of function is primarily due to the removal of muscle tissue.
**Clinical Pearl:** In clinical practice, surgeons are cautious while resecting muscles to minimize muscle loss, as it can lead to functional deficits and potential deformities.
**Correct Answer:** D. Resection of a muscle results in the loss of function due to the removal of muscle tissue, which prevents the adjacent nerves from effectively stimulating the remaining muscle fibers. This leads to weakness and potential deformity.