Which term refers to loss of sensation in an area of the body supplied by sensory nerve pathways?

• A. Regional anesthesia
• B. Hematocrit
• C. Topical anesthesia
• D. Hemorrhage

Answer: (A)

Regional anesthesia describes loss of sensation in a specific region of the body by blocking the sensory nerve pathways that supply that area. By delivering a local anesthetic near a nerve or nerve plexus, transmission of pain signals is interrupted for that region while the patient remains awake. This is how a limb or larger body region can be numbed without affecting the whole body. In contrast, hematocrit is a blood parameter, and hemorrhage means bleeding. Topical anesthesia numbs only a surface area by applying anesthetic to skin or mucosa, which is different from blocking the nerves that carry sensation from a larger region.