Air Methods Critical Care Practice Exam 2025 - Free Critical Care Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the context of spinal shock, it's important to understand the physiological effects that occur following a spinal cord injury. Spinal shock is characterized by a temporary loss of all neurological function below the level of injury.

Flaccidity refers to the loss of muscle tone and reflexes, which is a hallmark of spinal shock. This occurs because there is a lack of communication between the brain and the muscles due to the injury.

Bradycardia, or a slowed heart rate, also typically presents in spinal shock. This can happen because the autonomic nervous system is affected, leading to decreased sympathetic output.

Bowel and bladder dysfunction is another significant symptom, as spinal shock impairs the normal reflexes and control mechanisms that govern these systems, often causing retention or loss of voluntary control.

In contrast, hypertension is not a symptom of spinal shock. While the initial response can involve hypotension (low blood pressure), the autonomic dysregulation due to the injury can lead to episodes of hypertension, but this would occur typically after the acute phase of spinal shock resolves and is associated more with autonomic dysreflexia rather than directly within the confines of spinal shock itself.