What does it mean if you have no knee jerk reflex?
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 is absent knee and ankle jerk?
Causes of an absent knee and ankle reflex with extensor plantars implies a mixed upper and lower motor neurone lesion, and causes include: subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. motor neurone disease. syphilitic tabo-paresis. Friedreich’s ataxia.
What causes knee jerking?
knee-jerk reflex, also called patellar reflex, sudden kicking movement of the lower leg in response to a sharp tap on the patellar tendon, which lies just below the kneecap.
What will happen if we don’t have reflex action?
Most reflexes don’t have to travel up to your brain to be processed, which is why they take place so quickly. A reflex action often involves a very simple nervous pathway called a reflex arc. If the reaction is exaggerated or absent, it may indicate a damage to the central nervous system.
What types of diseases might a patient have if they are non responsive for these reflexes?
These include:
- Infectious maternal diseases (Aids, Rebella, Syphilis, etc.)
- Chronic maternal conditions (Hypo or Hyperthyroidism, Diabetes, etc.)
Why do doctors test knee reflex?
Medical author Dr Janice Rachel Mae explains that doctors routinely use reflex tests to check if there are any problems in the nervous system involved in movement, nerve functioning or health of the connective tissue in the knee or leg.
What are the causes of loss of ankle jerk?
A reduced or absent ankle jerk reflex can indicate pathology of the tibial and/or sciatic nerve….Ankle Jerk Reflex
- Oligodendroglioma.
- Neoplasm.
- Ganglioglioma.
- Seizure.
- Temozolomide.
- Neuropathy.
- Venous Thromboembolism.
- Isocitrate Dehydrogenase.
What is meant by knee-jerk reaction?
If you call someone’s response to a question or situation a knee-jerk reaction, you mean that they react in a very predictable way, without thinking.
What is the knee jerk reflex an example of?
Doctors will test reflexes by tapping the tendon just below the knee, and this causes the leg to kick out. This knee-jerk reflex is an example of a simple monosynaptic reflex.
Why is the knee-jerk important in walking?
The primary purpose of the patellar reflex – the stretch reflex of the quadriceps femoris muscle – is to prevent excessive stretching of the quadriceps.