A Man Is Paralyzed Below the Waist Due to an Injury

question 21

Multiple Choice

A man is paralyzed below the waist due to an injury that fully severed his spinal cord. Can this man experience an erection?

• A) Yes, but only if the penis is physically stimulated.
• B) Yes, but only if he has sexual thoughts or sees something stimulating.
• C) Yes, but the erection will be controlled by voluntary, rather than autonomic, nerves.
• D) No, because the brain is necessary for an erection to occur.
• E) No, because the reflex must travel through both the brain and spinal cord.

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Definitions:

Blood Pressure

The force that circulating blood exerts against the walls of the body's arteries, an essential indicator of cardiovascular health.

Psoriasis

A chronic autoimmune condition that affects the skin, causing red, scaly patches that may be itchy or painful.

Placebo

An inactive substance or treatment that is designed to mimic the experimental treatment but has no therapeutic effect.

Volunteer Bias

A form of selection bias occurring when the characteristics of volunteers differ from those of the non-volunteers, potentially affecting the study's outcome.