Lesion at the level of the left anterior horn cells at T10 spinal cord segment would produce which of the following deficits?

• A Spastic paralysis of left lower limb
• B Loss of proprioception in left lower limb
• C Contralateral loss of pain below T10
• D Flaccid paralysis of abdominal muscles at T10 dermatome level on the left ✓

Explanation

Anterior horn cells are lower motor neurons (LMN). A lesion confined to anterior horn cells at T10 destroys LMNs supplying muscles at that segmental level, producing flaccid paralysis of ipsilateral trunk muscles innervated by that segment. There is no upper limb or lower limb LMN involvement since those are at different spinal levels. Spastic paralysis implies upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion; proprioception loss implies posterior column damage; contralateral pain loss implies spinothalamic tract damage — none of these follow from isolated anterior horn cell pathology.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.