Tendon reflex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tendon reflex (or T-reflex) may refer to:

  • A stretch reflex, when the stretch is created by a blow upon a muscle tendon. This is the usual definition of the term. [1][2] A common example is the standard knee-jerk response when visiting the doctor. [3] Deep tendon reflex also usually refers to this sense. A deep tendon reflex is often associated with muscle stretching. [4] Tendon reflex tests are used to determine the integrity of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system, and they can be used to detect the presence of a neuromuscular disease. [5]
  • The Golgi tendon reflex, motivated by that the sensory receptors for this reflex are anatomically located in the tendon, while the sensory receptors for the stretch reflex are actually inside the proper muscle.

Testing

To test the reflex,tap on the tendon. In a healthy individual the intensity on both sides is equal. This means that the connections between the spinal cord and the muscles are undamaged. [6]

Functions of Tendon Reflex

The tendon reflex is a response to extensive tension on a tendon.[7]It helps avoid strong muscle contractions which could tear the tendon from either the muscle or bone.[8] In sports, quick movements can damage the tendon before the reflex can occur. .[9]The tendon reflex also helps spread the workload more evenly over the entire muscle by preventing “muscle fibers connected with overstiumlated tendon organs so that their contraction is more comparable to the contraction of the rest of the muscle.”[10]

References

  1. ↑ TheFreeDictionary > tendon reflex Citing: Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007
  2. ↑ dictionary.com > tendon reflex Citing: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, 2007 and The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary 2002
  3. ↑ wustl.edu > tendon reflex Citing: wustl.edu. REFLEXES: Tendon & Other. 2008.
  4. ↑ TheFreeDictionary.com > deep tendon reflex Citing: The American Heritage Medical Dictionary, 2007 and Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition, 2009
  5. ↑ eNotes > tendon reflex Citing: Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health. 2002
  6. ↑ Batavia , Mitchell, and Andrew McDonough. "Demonstrating the Stretch Reflex: A Mechanical Model." National Associations of Biology Teachers 62.7 (2000): 503-507. JSTOR. Web. 9 Dec. 2011.
  7. ↑ Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy & Physiology: the Unity of Form and Function. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.1
  8. ↑ Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy & Physiology: the Unity of Form and Function. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.1
  9. ↑ Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy & Physiology: the Unity of Form and Function. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.1
  10. ↑ Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy & Physiology: the Unity of Form and Function. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.1

External links

Cranial nerve
Stretch reflexes
Primitive reflexes
Superficial reflexes
Lists
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
  • Churchill-Cope reflex
Other

M: PNS

anat (h/r/t/c/b/l/s/a)/phys (r)/devp/prot/nttr/nttm/ntrp

noco/auto/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug (N1B)

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.