AEMCA Practice Exam

In which shock state does trauma to the spinal cord interfere with autonomic control?

1. Cardiogenic shock

2. Neurogenic shock

3. Septic shock

4. Hypovolemic shock

The correct answer is: Neurogenic shock

Neurogenic shock occurs as a result of trauma to the spinal cord, which disrupts the autonomic control mechanisms that normally regulate vascular tone and heart rate. This condition typically arises from lesions in the spinal cord that can sever sympathetic pathways, leading to a loss of sympathetic tone, vasodilation, and subsequent hypotension. In neurogenic shock, patients may exhibit symptoms such as bradycardia and warm, dry skin because the usual compensatory mechanism of increasing heart rate and constricting blood vessels is impaired. The other shock states mentioned are not primarily caused by spinal cord injury. Cardiogenic shock arises from the heart’s inability to pump blood effectively, septic shock is related to severe infections causing systemic inflammatory responses, and hypovolemic shock is caused by significant fluid loss, generally leading to decreased blood volume. Each of these conditions has distinct underlying mechanisms and does not involve the disruption of autonomic regulation through spinal cord injury as seen in neurogenic shock.