During a car accident, Andrea injured the sacral region of her spinal cord (the lower area that controls areas such as the legs and feet). Following this injury, what will Andrea experience?

Question

Her spinal cord will regenerate new, complex neuron cells.

Regions below the spinal injury will no longer send or receive messages from the brain.

Her brain will become incapable of being able to send or receive information from any part of the body.

Areas above the spinal injury will no longer be able to send messages to, or receive messages from, the brain.

Answer 1

Following an injury to the sacral region of her spinal cord, Andrea will primarily experience the following:

Regions below the spinal injury will no longer send or receive messages from the brain.

Injuries to the spinal cord can disrupt the communication between the brain and body. In Andrea's case, an injury to the sacral region would lead to loss of sensation and motor function in parts of the body that are regulated by that area of the spinal cord, particularly affecting the legs and feet. The other statements provided do not accurately reflect the effects of a spinal cord injury. Specifically:

• The spinal cord does not regenerate new, complex neuron cells effectively after injury.
• Her brain will still be capable of sending and receiving information from other parts of the body not affected by the injury.
• Areas above the spinal injury will still be able to send messages to the brain.

Therefore, the most accurate statement is that regions below the spinal injury will no longer send or receive messages from the brain.