Neurophysiology: autonomic nervous system, hypothalamus
Physiology · MBBS
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Study notes
A patient with a high spinal cord injury sweats only above the injury level on hot days. Descending sympathetic fibres are cut — below the lesion, sweating (sympathetic cholinergic) and vessel control are lost, while the intact upper body compensates by sweating more. This also explains autonomic dysreflexia: a full bladder below the injury triggers massive sympathetic discharge (dangerous hypertension) without brain restraint. The level of injury predicts the autonomic pattern.
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