Final answer:
Flushed skin in spinal shock occurs due to neurogenic shock, which is caused by damage to the nervous system disrupting sympathetic tone and leading to unopposed parasympathetic activity, resulting in vasodilation and flushed appearance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Flushed skin observed in a patient who is in spinal shock is attributable to a type of vascular shock known as neurogenic shock. This condition arises when there is an injury to the spinal cord or brain, particularly affecting the cardiovascular centers in the medulla oblongata or the nerves originating from this region. Due to the damage, sympathetic outflow may be disrupted, leading to an unopposed parasympathetic tone.
As a result, the blood vessels can dilate widely (vasodilation), significantly increasing blood flow to the skin and causing it to appear red or flushed. This disruption of autonomic pathways is responsible for the vascular spasm and malfunction, differentiating neurogenic shock from other types of circulatory shock such as hypovolemic shock or septic shock, where different mechanisms lead to a critical drop in blood pressure. In neurogenic shock, the loss of vasomotor tone and reflex compensatory mechanisms due to the spinal injury results in a unique presentation, including skin flushing, hypotension, and bradycardia.