National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Practice Test

The relationship between subluxation-induced compression and organ pathology is an important concept in chiropractic care. Compression on spinal structures can lead to alterations in nerve function. In particular, decreased sympathetic activity can have significant implications for organ functionality.

When there is a subluxation resulting in nerve compression, the affected nerves, particularly those in the sympathetic nervous system, may exhibit diminished activity. The sympathetic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, including blood flow, metabolic processes, and organ system operations. Therefore, decreased sympathetic activity can lead to a loss of normal regulatory control over numerous organs. This disruption can result in decreased vascular supply and impair the organ's ability to function properly.

For instance, if sympathetic innervation to the heart is decreased, it could lead to lower heart rate and compromised cardiac output. Similarly, if the digestive organs experience decreased sympathetic activity, this could impair digestion and absorption processes, ultimately leading to symptomatic organ pathology.

In contrast, increased sympathetic activity or sympathetic facilitation would typically result in heightened responses and could lead to stress on organ systems rather than pathology directly induced by compression. Parasympathetic inhibition would primarily influence functions that require rest and digestion, not directly leading to the organ pathology stemming from subluxation-induced compression.

Understanding