KNEE REFLEX Meaning and
Definition
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Knee reflex, also commonly referred to as the patellar reflex or the stretch reflex, is a fundamental physiological response exhibited by the body when the tendons below the kneecap (patella) are tapped or struck. This reflex is a type of deep tendon reflex that involves the contraction of a specific muscle, the quadriceps femoris, which is responsible for extending the leg at the knee joint.
When the knee is tapped, sensory receptors called muscle spindles located within the quadriceps muscle detect the sudden stretching of the muscle fibers. This sensory information is rapidly conveyed to the spinal cord through sensory nerve fibers or afferent nerves. In the spinal cord, the sensory signals synapse with motor neurons, which are responsible for controlling movement.
The motor neurons, upon receiving the sensory input, transmit electrical signals back to the quadriceps muscle through motor nerve fibers or efferent nerves. This causes the muscle to contract, resulting in a sudden, involuntary kick or extension of the lower leg. The knee reflex is an example of a monosynaptic reflex, meaning there is only one synapse or connection between the sensory and motor neurons in the spinal cord.
The knee reflex is an important clinical tool used by healthcare professionals to assess the integrity and proper functioning of the neurological pathways involved in reflex arcs. Any abnormalities or delays in the reflex response may indicate potential damage or dysfunction within the nervous system.
Common Misspellings for KNEE REFLEX
- jnee reflex
- mnee reflex
- lnee reflex
- onee reflex
- inee reflex
- kbee reflex
- kmee reflex
- kjee reflex
- khee reflex
- knwe reflex
- knse reflex
- knde reflex
- knre reflex
- kn4e reflex
- kn3e reflex
- knew reflex
- knes reflex
- kned reflex
- kner reflex
- kne4 reflex
Etymology of KNEE REFLEX
The word "knee reflex" is composed of two parts: "knee" and "reflex".
1. Knee: The word "knee" originated from the Old English word "cneo", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "kneu", meaning "knee" or "joint". The origin of the Proto-Germanic term is uncertain, but it is believed to have Indo-European roots.
2. Reflex: The word "reflex" comes from the Latin term "reflexus", which is the past participle of "reficere", meaning "to reflect" or "to bend back". Later, in Late Latin, "reflexus" evolved to mean "reflection or reaction of light". This sense of reflection was later applied to describe neurologically involuntary actions, leading to the usage of "reflex" to represent involuntary responses of the body.
