Question

during a playoff game, a college hockey player is struck hard on the back of his neck with a hockey stick. a computed tomography (ct) scan reveals a bone fragment lodged into the medial aspect (fasciculus gracilis) of his dorsal columns in the t1 area of the spinal cord. which functions will most likely be affected given this clients presentation? pain and temperature sense from the lower extremities pain from the ipsilateral face touch, pressure, and vibratory sense from the upper extremities only touch, pressure, and vibratory sense from the lower extremities

Explanation:

The fasciculus gracilis in the dorsal columns of the spinal cord is responsible for transmitting touch, pressure, and vibratory sense from the lower extremities. Damage to this area (as in the case of a bone fragment lodged in the T1 area affecting the fasciculus gracilis) would most likely impact these sensory functions for the lower extremities. Pain and temperature sense are carried by different pathways (spinothalamic tract). Pain from the ipsilateral face is related to trigeminal nerve pathways. Touch, pressure, and vibratory sense from the upper extremities are carried by the fasciculus cuneatus (not affected here as the question specifies the medial aspect - fasciculus gracilis which is for lower extremities).

Answer:

Touch, pressure, and vibratory sense from the lower extremities