Extreme cold injures cells by all the following except a. decreased blood viscosity. b. ischemic injury from vasoconstriction. c. peripheral nerve damage from rebound vasodilation. d. crystallization of cellular components.

The correct answer is option a. "decreased blood viscosity".

Explanation:

Extreme cold conditions injures the cell in different ways, however decreasing blood viscosity is not one of them. Actually, hypothermia causes the opposite effect, it increases the blood pressure. The body reaction to hypothermia is to increase heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure as an attempt to warm the organs.

The correct answer is: A) decreased blood viscosity.

Explanation:

A body suffering from extreme cold is in a state of hypothermia. Hypothermia is a very dangerous condition as, if left untreated, it can lead to death. Hypothermia occurs when body temperature is lower than 95 F (35 C) - normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C) - and, depending on the severity of the state, it can have symptoms from shivering and confusion to losing all vitals signs as a result of complete failure of the heart and the respiratory system. Cells in the body are damaged by hypothermia since this condition increases blood viscosity, affecting blood pressure; besides, vasoconstriction (the contraction of muscle fibers in blood vessels), leads to ischemic injury and the stopping of the blood flow. Peripheral nerve damage and crystallization of cellular components are also consequences of hypothermia.