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Which one of the following is not a classic feature of syringomyelia?

A. Spasticity
B. Muscular atrophy
C. Fasciculations
D. Loss of temperature and pain sensation
E. Preservation of proprioception

User Bolton
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Final answer:

Fasciculations are not a classic feature of syringomyelia. Classic features include loss of temperature and pain sensation, muscular atrophy, and preservation of proprioception. Fasciculations are more commonly associated with motor neuron disorders like ALS.

Step-by-step explanation:

When examining the classic features of syringomyelia, we must consider the typical neurological deficits that accompany this condition. Syringomyelia is characterized by the development of a fluid-filled cyst, or syrinx, within the spinal cord which can expand and elongate over time, damaging the spinal cord. The classic symptoms include loss of temperature and pain sensation due to damage to the spinothalamic tracts crossing fibers at the level of the syrinx, and muscular atrophy resulting from damage to the anterior horn cells. Preservation of proprioception is usually noted as proprioceptive fibers travel in the posterior columns and are spared in the early stages of syringomyelia.

However, fasciculations are not a classic feature of syringomyelia. Fasciculations are brief, spontaneous contractions affecting a small number of muscle fibers, often causing a flicker of movement under the skin. They are commonly associated with disorders of the motor neurons, such as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Spasticity, while it can occur in syringomyelia, is not as characteristic as the other features mentioned and may be linked to the involvement of upper motor neurons in the later stages of the disease.

User PriestVallon
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