Discussion:
Spinal Cord Injury and Sensory Information Processing
This question has three small parts - I have answered (a) okay I think, but am really stuck on (b) and (c). Please help:
"Patient A has a tumour located on the thoracic spinal cord at the level of T3 and shows differences in the way sensory information in his legs and lower trunk is processed. This mainly involves alterations in the sensation of pain and temperature on the right side and in the sensation of touch on the left side".
(a) Is the lesion provoked by the tumour in the thoracic spinal cord partial or complete?
I have said that Patient A's symptoms suggest thoracic paraplegia & partial transection of the spinal cord, as the legs and lower trunk are primarily affected and as sensations below the tumor area are not completely lost.
(b) Would patient A's knee-jerk reflex be affected?
(c) Would patient A be able to reach for a cup of coffee?