A 15-year-old male is brought to the emergency department for treatment of injuries received in a motor vehicle accident. An MRI reveals spinal cord injury, and his body temperature fluctuates markedly. The most accurate explanation of this phenomenon is that:
A) he developed pneumonia.
B) his sympathetic nervous system has been damaged and thermal control disturbed.
C) he has a brain injury.
D) he has septicemia from an unknown source.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fluctuating body temperature is indicative of a disturbance in thermal control, which is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system. In this case, the spinal cord injury may have damaged the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the temperature fluctuations. The other options (pneumonia, brain injury, septicemia) do not directly explain this phenomenon.

A 15-Year-Old Male Is Brought to the Emergency Department for Treatment