NUR 2462C Study Guide - Final Guide: Spinal Cord Injury, Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction, Autonomic Dysreflexia
8 Jun 2020
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Document Summary
Autonomic dysreflexia: also known as autonomic hyperreflexia, a massive uncompensated cardiovascular reaction mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. Involves stimulation of sensory receptors below the level of spinal cord injury. Stimulation of sensory receptors below the level of the cord lesion causes the intact autonomic nervous system to respond with arteriolar spasm which increases the blood pressure. When hypertension occurs, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated causing the heart rate to drop. The signal for the peripheral and visceral vessels to dilate doesn"t happen because the efferent impulses can"t pass through the cord due to the injury. Complete cord injury: total loss of sensory and motor functions below the level of injury. Incomplete cord injury: mixed loss of voluntary motor activity and sensation, leaves some tracts intact. Neurogenic bladder: any type of bladder dysfunction related to abnormal or absent bladder innervation. Neurogenic shock: due to the loss of vasomotor tone caused by injury and is characterized by hypotension and bradycardia.
