Final answer:
Anterior Cord Syndrome primarily affects muscle function and sensation, leading to muscular weaknesses, balance and coordination problems, and unusual sensory experiences like numbness . Cognitive and visual disturbances, as well as severe symptoms such as seizures can also occur, depending on the severity of the syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anterior Cord Syndrome is a condition which affects a portion of the spinal cord referred to as the anterior spinal artery. The syndrome comes with a variety of symptoms that can significantly hamper regular bodily functions. The severity of these symptoms often on the extent of the damage dealt to the spinal cord itself.
Primary symptoms are usually related to muscle function and sensation, and may include muscle weakness, impaired coordination and balance, and numbness often described as a "pins and needles" feeling. These symptoms occur mainly due to the loss of input to the ventral horn in the lumbar enlargement where motor neurons for the legs are located. The function of the trunk muscles can also be affected, leading to bilateral losses in the trunk.
Cognitive impairment, memory loss, and visual disturbances may also be experienced by those suffering from the syndrome. In serious cases, symptoms such as seizures, a stiff neck, or the onset of the rigid body state known as opisthotonos may also occur.
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