how come even if you become paralyzed from neck down, the muscles responsible for peristalsis, as well as the?

Question

people who are paralyzed from neck down can, most times not move conscious muscles in their body, but my wonder is why other muscles like the heart or the ones located around the oesophagus, intestine and stomach, still show signs of muscular activity.

Answer 1

It has been described to me that the intestinal tract has a "brain" of it's own. Just like how cardiac muscle contracts without any innervation from the central nervous system, the intestinal system can undergo peristalsis without commands from above.

It is unfortunate that the diaphragm requires innervation from the central nervous system to work. The diaphragm cannot just work without input.

Answer 2

We actually have TWO major nerve bundles descending from the brain stem, the spinal cord and the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the one responsible for or involved in involuntary actions, such as heart rate, peristalsis, and even orgasms. Unlike the spinal cord which goes through the core of the backbone, the vagus nerve wanders down the torso among the organs, so that if the spinal cord should be traumatized, the vagus nerve is left unaffected.

Answer 3

They aren't controlled by spinal ennervation. Just for jollies, you might want to trace the course of a vagus nerve, for instance. You may also want to study the automaticity of cardiac muscle, just for a taste of things.

Answer 4

there are different types of injuries to cause paralysis... if you have total paralysis from the neck down you would be dead... not everyone that gets paralyzed from the neck down avoids losing peristalsis etc... only the ones that do tell their story.

Answer 5

it depends what area in the brain has been damaged and what depth. most of the cases neuroreceptors that control volutary muscles are mostly affected.