330
CHAPTER 26
level of the lesion, especially engorgement of the veins in the neck and temporal area,
indicating increased venous pressure and were associated with blockage of the nasal air
passages. In Fig. 144 the areas of vasodilatation in face and neck are marked by the
black lines. The reflex sweating in this case is shown in Fig. 153. Fig. 145 demonstrates
the effect of distension of the bladder on blood flow through the right index finger in a
complete lesion below T2/3, resulting in vasoconstriction. This was also found in other
high lesions in both fingers and toes, in particular in complete lesions of the cervical cord
below C6. It may be noted that it was sometimes impossible to take blood samples from
the foot veins during the stage of vasoconstriction, indicating their participation in the
powerful active vasoconstriction present in the whole vascular bed of the paralysed area.
Donegan (1921) produced evidence for such venous constriction in animals. Yet, even in
these high lesions, face, neck and forearm showed a vasodilatation.
Beats/mm.
120
60 mm.
FIG. 145. Complete lesion below T2-3. Effect of distension of the bladder on the
blood flow through a finger in a patient with a high lesion. B.P.S., systolic blood-pressure;
B.P.D.j diastolic blood-pressure; P.R., pulse rate; Bl.P., bladder pressure; B1.V.,
bladder volume; R.F.2, —•— pulse volume in right index finger. (From L.Guttmann
and D.Whitteridge (1947),
Brain,,
70,
361.)
