Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

Which condition is characterized by hyporeflexia and flaccidity?

1. Upper motor neuron injury

2. Cerebral contusion

3. Lower motor neuron injury

4. Concussion

The correct answer is: Lower motor neuron injury

Hyporeflexia and flaccidity are clinical signs that indicate lower motor neuron involvement. In lower motor neuron injury, the pathways that connect the spinal cord to the muscles are disrupted, leading to a lack of muscle tone and decreased reflexes. This results in a flaccid paralysis, where the affected muscles become weak and have reduced response to stimuli, reflective of impaired neural transmission at the level of the lower motor neurons. Upper motor neuron injuries, on the other hand, typically present with increased muscle tone (spasticity) and hyperreflexia due to continued reflex activity without proper inhibitory signals from the brain. Conditions such as cerebral contusions or concussions predominantly affect higher brain functions and may lead to a variety of neurological deficits, but do not produce the specific combination of hyporeflexia and flaccidity characteristic of lower motor neuron lesions. Thus, the presence of hyporeflexia and flaccidity distinctly points towards a lower motor neuron injury.