A 59-year-old patient has a herniated intervertebral disk. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect to see on physical assessment of this individual?
a. Hyporeflexia
b. Increased muscle tone
c. Positive Babinski sign
d. Presence of pathologic reflexes
ANS: A
With a herniated intervertebral disk or lower motor neuron lesion, loss of tone, flaccidity, atrophy, fasciculations, and hyporeflexia or areflexia are demonstrated. No Babinski sign or pathologic reflexes would be observed.The other options reflect a lesion of upper motor neurons.
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