A patient is admitted to the hospital with a C4 spinal cord injury after a motorcycle collision. The patient’s BP is 84/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 38 beats/minute, and he remains orally intubated. The...

A patient is admitted to the hospital with a C4 spinal cord injury after a motorcycle collision. The patient’s BP is 84/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 38 beats/minute, and he remains orally intubated. The nurse determines that this pathophysiologic response is caused by

a. increased vasomotor tone after injury.

b. a temporary loss of sensation and flaccid paralysis below the level of injury.

c. loss of parasympathetic nervous system innervation resulting in vasoconstriction.

d. loss of sympathetic nervous system innervation resulting in peripheral vasodilation.