Jul 30, 2018 · Questions: A) What causes the patellar reflex? The patellar tendons being hit stretches the muscle spindle in the quadriceps femoris muscle. This produces a signal that synapses directly onto an alpha motor neuron in the spinal cord.
The reflex center for the patellar reflex is in the lumbar region of the spinal cord. A reflex such as the patellar reflex in which response is seen on the same side of the body to which the stimulus is applied is said to be ipsilateral. d. Mental activity can influence reflex activity, in part by increasing muscle tonus. i.
Exercise 3 Testing a Stretch Reflex Data Table 3 Testing the Patellar Reflex. Exercise 3 testing a stretch reflex data table 3. ... Course Title BIOL 230; Type. Lab Report. Uploaded By mich262002. Pages 5 Ratings 100% (22) 22 out of 22 people found this document helpful;
When a tendon attached to the kneecap, or patellar tendon, is suddenly stretched, the brain directs the quadriceps muscle in the thigh to contract. This causes the kneejerk reflex that temporarily straightens the leg and ends with a slight tapering of the flexed knee.
The patellar reflex or knee-jerk (in American English knee reflex) is a stretch reflex which tests the L2, L3, and L4 segments of the spinal cord.
Striking of the patellar tendon with a reflex hammer just below the patella stretches the muscle spindle in the quadriceps muscle. This produces a signal which travels back to the spinal cord and synapses (without interneurons) at the level of L3 or L4 in the spinal cord, completely independent of higher centres.
Wilhelm Heinrich Erb (1840–1921) and Carl Friedrich Westphal (1833–1890) simultaneously reported the patellar tendon or knee reflex in 1875. The term knee-jerk was recorded by Sir Michael Foster in his Textbook of physiology in 1877: "Striking the tendon below the patella gives rise to a sudden extension of the leg, known as the knee-jerk.".
After the tap of a hammer, the leg is normally extended once and comes to rest. The absence or decrease of this reflex is problematic, and known as Westphal's sign. This reflex may be diminished or absent in lower motor neuron lesions and during sleep. On the other hand, multiple oscillation of the leg (pendular reflex) following the tap may be a sign of cerebellar diseases. Exaggerated (brisk) deep tendon reflexes such as this can be found in upper motor neuron lesions, hyperthyroidism, anxiety or nervousness. The test itself assesses the nervous tissue between and including the L2 and L4 segments of the spinal cord.
Patellar reflex is the scientific name for the layman’s term called knee jerk. It is tested to check the reflexes of an individual to a sensation. Whenever you might have gone to a doctor for a problem, which may have a connection with sensory faculties, the doctor must have tapped a bit under your knee with a tendon hammer.
Somatic or Autonomic. This reflex is a somatic reflex arc, which affects the muscles. It is a stretch reflex when a muscle or tendon is struck or hit. The jolt leads the muscle to contract, which in turn inhibits the muscle contraction as a result of being struck. They are fundamentally spinal reflexes, mediated by the spinal cord.
The patella also functions to allow for smooth movement of the knee in flexion and extension, and also protects the anterior surface of the knee joint.
The patella sits on the anterior surface of the femoral condyles, and is hence relatively vulnerable. Direct trauma to the knee is the commonest cause of patellar fracture. Symptoms include swelling of the knee and pain in the region. Surgery is the most usual treatment.
The patella is also known as the kneecap. It sits in front of the knee joint and protects the joint from damage. It is the largest sesamoid bone in the body, and lies within the quadriceps tendon. The kneecap is an example of a bone we are all familiar with, and which has a significant functional role. In this article we will discuss the anatomy ...
Anatomy. The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body and it lies within the quadriceps tendon in front of the knee joint. The bone originates from multiple ossification centres that develop from the ages of three to six, which rapidly coalesce. The patella is a thick, flat, triangular bone with its apex pointing downwards.
The patella is stabilized by the horizontal fibers of vastus medialis, as well as the anterior projection of the lateral femoral condyle. The tension in the medial patellar retinaculum also helps in its stability. For more details about the anatomy of the patella, take a look below: Tibia and fibula Explore study unit.
It is one of the juvenile osteochondroses, and causes anterior knee pain. It is commonest in children aged twelve to fourteen years of age, and among those children that play a lot of sports. The same kind of symptoms have been reported where the quadriceps inserts onto the base of the patella.
Patellar reflex also known as knee jerk is the contraction of quadriceps femoris muscle resulting in the extension of knee joint. The myotome that causes knee extension is L2-4 i.e. the femoral the lower two divisions of the femoral nerve. The patient is asked to relax their knee, and the patella ligament (below the tibial tuberosity, and above the tibial shaft) is struck.