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Medicine LibreTexts

9: Reflexes

  • Page ID
    124980
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    • 9.1: Introduction to Reflexes
      This page explains reflexes and reflex arcs, describing their key components: receptors, sensory neurons, interneurons, motor neurons, and effectors. It distinguishes between monosynaptic reflexes, which involve two neurons, and polysynaptic reflexes, which include multiple neurons and synapses. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of reflex tests in evaluating neural function.
    • 9.2: Reflex Tests
      This page describes four reflex tests: knee-jerk, ankle-jerk, biceps-jerk, and triceps-jerk. Each test targets specific nerves—the patellar reflex assesses the femoral nerve, the ankle reflex evaluates the sacral plexus, and the biceps and triceps reflexes examine the brachial plexus. Instructions focus on the subject's positioning and the method for eliciting muscle responses through tendon strikes, which aids in evaluating the integrity of the corresponding nerve pathways.
    • 9.3: Questions and Review - Reflexes


    This page titled 9: Reflexes is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Harmony Folse.