Which of the following is a typical sign of neurogenic shock?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a typical sign of neurogenic shock?

Neurogenic shock stems from disruption of the sympathetic nervous system, usually after a spinal cord injury above the level of T6. When the sympathetic outflow is lost, blood vessels below the injury lose tone and dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure. At the same time, the heart no longer receives sympathetic signals to raise its rate, so the parasympathetic (vagal) system can dominate, leading to a slower heart rate. That combination—low vascular resistance with a slow heart rate—is why bradycardia is the typical sign. Other options don’t fit the usual picture. Tachycardia is common in other shock types where the body tries to compensate for low pressure, hypertension isn’t expected because vasodilation lowers blood pressure, and fever isn’t a feature of neurogenic shock itself.

Neurogenic shock stems from disruption of the sympathetic nervous system, usually after a spinal cord injury above the level of T6. When the sympathetic outflow is lost, blood vessels below the injury lose tone and dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure. At the same time, the heart no longer receives sympathetic signals to raise its rate, so the parasympathetic (vagal) system can dominate, leading to a slower heart rate. That combination—low vascular resistance with a slow heart rate—is why bradycardia is the typical sign.

Other options don’t fit the usual picture. Tachycardia is common in other shock types where the body tries to compensate for low pressure, hypertension isn’t expected because vasodilation lowers blood pressure, and fever isn’t a feature of neurogenic shock itself.

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