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What is the efferent nerve for patellar reflex?

What is the efferent nerve for patellar reflex?

femoral nerve
The patellar tendon reflex tests the function of the femoral nerve and spinal cord segments L2-L4. The absence or decrease of this reflex is known as Westphal’s sign.

What nerve is carrying the afferent and efferent impulses in patellar reflex?

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Question Answer
What nerve is carrying the afferent and efferent impulses in the patellar stretch reflex? femoral nerve
Cross-extensor reflex more complex than the stretch reflex. It consists of a flexor, or withdrawal, reflex follow by extension of the opposite limb.

Why does the patellar reflex happen when your leg is straight?

The sharp tap on the tendon slightly stretches the quadriceps, the complex of muscles at the front of the upper leg. In reaction these muscles contract, and the contraction tends to straighten the leg in a kicking motion.

What kind of reflex is the patellar reflex?

monosynaptic reflex arc
The patellar reflex is a clinical and classic example of the monosynaptic reflex arc. There is no interneuron in the pathway leading to contraction of the quadriceps muscle. Instead, the sensory neuron synapses directly on a motor neuron in the spinal cord.

What nerve carries afferent and efferent impulses?

Due to their function, nerve fibers which carry afferent impulses are known as afferent nerves or sensory nerves, and those nerve fibers which carry efferent impulses are known as efferent nerves or motor nerves.

What nerve is tested in the patellar reflex quizlet?

Terms in this set (6) The patellar reflex or knee-jerk is a stretch reflex which tests the L2, L3, and L4 segments of the spinal cord.

Why doesn’t the patellar reflex happen?

An absent or diminished patellar tendon reflex may be due to PNS pathology affecting either the afferent sensory neurons or the efferent motor neurons. If the reflex is absent or diminished combined with sensory loss, the lesion is likely in the afferent sensory nerves.

What is the normal response of the patellar reflex?

Patellar tendon reflex. Your doctor will use a rubber hammer to tap firmly on the tendon just below your kneecap. In a normal test, your knee will extend and lift your foot a little. A decreased or absent reflex may mean that there is compression in the L2, L3, or L4 region.

What nerve causes knee jerk?

Although the knee jerk reflex is mediated by the L3 and L4 nerve roots, evidence exists that altered knee jerk expression may occur with exclusively L5 radiculopathy.

How does the patellar reflex help or protect us?

How does the patellar reflex protect us? Reflexes protect your body from harmful things. It’s also called the deep tendon reflex (DTR), because the doctor actually is tapping on your patellar tendon. The tap on the tendon stretches the tendon, which in turn stretches the thigh muscle connected to it.

What is a normal reaction for the patellar reflex?

What does an abnormal patellar reflex indicate? The normal response is a ‘knee jerk’. This is an example of a reflex, which is an involuntary muscular response elicited by the rubber hammer tapping the associated tendon. When reflex responses are absent this could be a clue that the spinal cord, nerve root, peripheral nerve, or muscle has been damaged.

What muscle is involved with the patellar reflex?

The automatic response of a muscle to a stimulus is called a reflex. The patellar reflex results from tapping the patellar tendon below the knee with a reflex hammer. This causes contraction of the quadriceps muscle and extension of the leg.

What kind of reflex is a patellar reflex?

Patellar reflex. The patellar reflex or knee-jerk (myotatic) (monosynaptic) (in American English knee reflex) is a stretch reflex which tests the L2, L3, and L4 segments of the spinal cord.