How Do You Spell PATELLAR REFLEXES?

Pronunciation: [pˈe͡ɪtə͡lə ɹˈiːflɛksɪz] (IPA)

The spelling of "patellar reflexes" may seem daunting, but the word can be broken down into its phonetic components. "Patellar" is pronounced with three syllables: /pəˈtɛlər/. The "a" sound is pronounced like the "a" in "cat," and the emphasis is on the second syllable. "Reflexes" is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈriːflɛksɪz/. The "e" sound is pronounced like the "e" in "bed," and the emphasis is on the first syllable. Together, the word is pronounced /pəˈtɛlər ˈriːflɛksɪz/.

PATELLAR REFLEXES Meaning and Definition

1. Patellar reflexes, also known as knee-jerk reflexes, are involuntary responses of the body that occur when the patellar tendon, located just below the knee cap, is struck or tapped with a reflex hammer. These reflexes are a part of the deep tendon reflexes and are mediated by the knee-jerk reflex arc.

   The knee-jerk reflex arc involves several components, including the sensory receptors in the patellar tendon, specifically known as muscle spindles. These sensory receptors detect changes in the length and tension of the tendon. When the tendon is tapped, it quickly stretches and activates the muscle spindles. This information is then transmitted via sensory neurons to the spinal cord.

   In the spinal cord, the sensory neurons synapse with motor neurons, which are responsible for transmitting the signals to the muscle. Once the sensory signals reach the spinal cord, an impulse is immediately sent back to the muscle causing a contraction response that leads to a quick and involuntary movement of the lower leg, resulting in the leg kicking forward.

   The patellar reflexes serve as a diagnostic and neurological assessment tool for healthcare professionals. They help evaluate the function of the nervous system, particularly the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves. Any abnormalities in the response, such as exaggerated or absent reflexes, can provide valuable information about underlying neurological conditions or disorders, including spinal cord injuries, certain nerve disorders, or diseases of the sensory or motor pathways.

Common Misspellings for PATELLAR REFLEXES

• patellar reflexs
• oatellar reflexes
• latellar reflexes
• -atellar reflexes
• 0atellar reflexes
• pztellar reflexes
• pstellar reflexes
• pwtellar reflexes
• pqtellar reflexes
• parellar reflexes
• pafellar reflexes
• pagellar reflexes
• payellar reflexes
• pa6ellar reflexes
• pa5ellar reflexes
• patwllar reflexes
• patsllar reflexes
• patdllar reflexes
• patrllar reflexes
• pat4llar reflexes

Etymology of PATELLAR REFLEXES

The word "patellar" in "patellar reflexes" is derived from the Latin word "patella", which means "kneecap". In anatomy, the patella is the bone located in front of the knee joint.

The term "reflex" comes from the Latin word "reflexus", which means "bent back" or "turned back". In the context of the patellar reflex, it refers to an automatic and involuntary response of the leg muscles when the patellar tendon is stimulated.

Therefore, the etymology of the term "patellar reflexes" can be understood as a reference to the involuntary and automatic contraction of the leg muscles in response to the stimulation of the patellar tendon.