X-rays taken in the trauma room show a fracture dislocation of the thoracic spine between the 11th thoracic vertebra (t11) and the 12th thoracic vertebra (t12). an mri confirms the clinical impression that joe’s spinal cord is completely disrupted at this level. what does the organization of white and gray matter in the spinal cord look like at the area where joe’s injury is located?

In this case, considering the spinal cord is completely disrupted, the organization of the white and gray matter would be a mess. The central gray matter portion would have leaks of CSF which contains nutrition and other functions for neurons -- making the surrounding area prone to degradation, lack of conduction and added injury. Under the microscope, the white matter portions will reveal severed neural fibers. It is likely that any functions linked to the fibers below T12 are absent. Other than that, severed white matter fiber would be all over the place.