A 36-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle collision and received an injury to the spine at the C7 level. The injury transected exactly half (anterior to posterior) of the spinal cord on the patient's right side.
-On which side of this patient would you expect vibration sense to be absent?
A)Left side
B)Right side
C)Vibration sensation would be not be affected
D)Both sides

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vibration sense is carried by the posterior columns of the spinal cord, which are located on both sides of the cord. However, because the injury transected exactly half of the spinal cord on the patient's right side, it is likely that the posterior column on the right side was affected, resulting in the absence of vibration sense on the patient's right side.

A 36-Year-Old Man Was Involved in a Motor Vehicle Collision