Mary is in an automobile accident and suffers a spinal cord injury. She has lost feeling in her lower body.Her doctor tells her that swelling is compressing a portion of her spinal cord. Which part of her cord is likely to be compressed?
A) the anterior gray horns
B) the anterior gray commissures
C) ascending tracts
D) descending tracts
E) the anterior white commissures

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ascending tracts carry sensory information from the lower body to the brain, and can be compressed by swelling or injury to the spinal cord. Loss of feeling in the lower body suggests that the injury affects sensory pathways, such as the ascending tracts. The other options listed (A, B, D, E) do not carry sensory information and are therefore less likely to be affected by the injury in the way described.

Mary Is in an Automobile Accident and Suffers a Spinal