Question #43bbc
1 Answer
The largest areas are the most sensitive. These are the areas the brain focuses on the most.
Explanation:
For example, the lips are one of the most sensitive parts of our body. They have many more nerve endings/touch receptors than other parts of the body (eg. arms, legs)
This is important because the lips are used for ingesting food. The sensitivity of the lips is there to tell you if the food you are ingesting is too hot/cold or maybe too sharp for your safety.
This is the same with hands and feet. Hands are primarily used for judging objects by touch. An object may be dangerous (temperature, sharp). Feet are used for walking on and need to be protected.
The arms and legs are not used for this. That is why they do not have as many nerve endings.
The brain receives information from the more important parts and the homunculus depicts these areas as larger.
