Why does a patient with a spinal cord injury at the T6 level often experience impaired thermoregulation during exercise in a hot environment?

💡 Explanation

T6 spinal cord injury disrupts sympathetic nervous system pathways controlling blood vessel dilation in the skin below the injury level. Because cutaneous vasodilation, crucial for heat dissipation through sweat glands and convection, is impaired, therefore thermoregulation fails. This occurs rather than increased parasympathetic activity or enhanced baroreceptor sensitivity, which would have opposing effects.

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