What does hyperactive deep tendon reflexes mean?

What does hyperactive deep tendon reflexes mean?

Hyperreflexia refers to hyperactive or repeating (clonic) reflexes. These usually indicate an interruption of corticospinal and other descending pathways that influence the reflex arc due to a suprasegmental lesion, that is, a lesion above the level of the spinal reflex pathways.

What is the normal response to striking the triceps tendon with a reflex hammer?

Testing. The test can be performed by tapping the triceps tendon with the sharp end of a reflex hammer while the forearm is hanging loose at a right angle to the arm. A sudden contraction of the triceps muscle causes extension, and indicates a normal reflex.

What nerve does the triceps reflex test?

The triceps reflex can be obtained by tapping the distal tendon at the posterior aspect of the elbow, with the elbow relaxed at about 90° of flexion. This tests the C7-C8 nerve roots.

Which type of reflexes are stimulated by tapping a tendon?

The reflex that the doctor checks by tapping your knee is called the patellar, or knee-jerk, reflex. It is also known as a deep tendon reflex (DTR) because the doctor is actually tapping on a tendon called the patellar (say: puh-TEL-ur) tendon.

What is hyperreflexia a symptom of?

Common disorders that manifest detrusor hyperreflexia are stroke, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis. The cause of detrusor instability is much more difficult to identify and, therefore, it is most commonly considered idiopathic.

What does hyperreflexia mean?

Neurology. Hyperreflexia is defined as overactive or overresponsive reflexes. Examples of this can include twitching or spastic tendencies, which are indicative of upper motor neuron disease as well as the lessening or loss of control ordinarily exerted by higher brain centers of lower neural pathways (disinhibition).

What happens when the Achilles tendon is tapped with the reflex hammer?

By tapping the tendon with a reflex hammer, a subsequent lengthening (stretch) in the triceps surae muscle occurs, causing the stretch receptors in the muscle spindle to be activated and propagate an excitatory stimulus.

What is tendon reflex?

Tendon reflexes are single synapse reflexes. A rapid stretch of the muscle stimulates the muscle spindles and this message is conveyed via the sensory root to the spinal cord at the segmental level of the muscle stimulated.

What does the triceps reflex test for?

The tricep reflex is tested as part of the neurological examination to asses the sensory and motor pathways within the C7 and C8 spinal nerves. The triceps reflex originates from the triceps brachii muscle, and is initiated by the C7 nerve root.

Which type of reflexes are stimulated by tapping a tendon and are normally acting to maintain posture balance and locomotion?

Some require only spinal cord activity; others require brain involvement as well. Stretch Reflexes. Stretch reflexes are important postural reflexes, normally acting to maintain posture, balance, and locomotion. Stretch reflexes are initiated by tapping a tendon, which stretches the muscle the tendon is attached to.

What is a tendon reflex quizlet?

Only $47.88/year. Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTR) A reflex is a motor response to a sensory stimulation that is used in an assessment to observe the integrity of the nervous system. They elicit a muscle contraction when the muscle’s tenon is stimulated.

What does it mean to be hyperreflexia?

Hyperreflexia is defined as overactive or overresponsive reflexes. Examples of this can include twitching or spastic tendencies, which are indicative of upper motor neuron disease as well as the lessening or loss of control ordinarily exerted by higher brain centers of lower neural pathways (disinhibition).