Which of the following is a characteristic of lower motor neuron injury?

Flaccid muscle tone is indeed a key characteristic of lower motor neuron injury. In lower motor neuron lesions, there is a loss of the neural pathways that control muscle contractions directly at the muscle level. This results in muscles that are unable to receive signals from the nervous system effectively, leading to weakness and a lack of muscle tone. As a consequence, the affected muscles become flaccid, which means they are limp and lack firmness, indicating that they are not contracting properly.

This condition differs distinctly from the characteristics of upper motor neuron injuries, which typically present hypertonia—an increased tone in the muscles—and increased stretch reflexes. Choreiform movements are related to basal ganglia dysfunction rather than lower motor neuron injuries. Understanding these fundamental differences helps clarify the clinical presentations one can observe in various types of neurological injuries.