A patient is admitted to the emergency department after a diving accident and is diagnosed with a cervical spinal cord injury. The nurse notes the patient's blood pressure is 82/50 mmHg, heart rate is 54 beats/minute, and skin is warm and dry below the level of injury. Which physiological explanation best accounts for these findings?
- Hemorrhage from the spinal injury causes hypovolemia and compensatory tachycardia
- Increased sodium retention leads to fluid shifts and decreased cardiac output
- Excessive parasympathetic stimulation above the injury level triggers a hypertensive crisis
- Loss of sympathetic nervous system control below the injury level causes vasodilation and bradycardia