patellar reflex — n KNEE JERK * * * the knee jerk, in which stretching the muscle at the front of the thigh by tapping its tendon below the knee cap causes a reflex contraction of the muscle, so that the leg kicks. This is a test of the connection between the… … Medical dictionary
patellar reflex — n. Med. a normal reflex kick with extension of the leg at the knee, produced by sharply tapping the tendon below the patella * * * … Universalium
patellar reflex — n. Med. a normal reflex kick with extension of the leg at the knee, produced by sharply tapping the tendon below the patella … English World dictionary
Patellar reflex — The patellar reflex or knee jerk is a stretch reflex and is a myotatic reflex. MechanismStriking the patellar tendon with a tendon hammer just below the patella stretches the quadriceps tendon. This stimulates stretch sensory receptors (most… … Wikipedia
patellar reflex — noun a reflex extension of the leg resulting from a sharp tap on the patellar tendon • Syn: ↑knee jerk, ↑knee jerk reflex • Hypernyms: ↑reflex, ↑reflex response, ↑reflex action, ↑instinctive reflex, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
patellar reflex — knee jerk reflex contraction of the quadriceps (thigh) muscle so that the leg kicks, elicited in a patient sitting with one knee crossed over the other by sharply tapping the tendon of the muscle below the kneecap. The reflex is mediated through… … The new mediacal dictionary
patellar reflex — noun The reflex which causes a bent knee to kick when the tendon below the patella (kneecap) is tapped. Syn: kneejerk reflex … Wiktionary
patellar reflex. — See knee jerk. [1890 95] * * * … Universalium
patellar reflex. — See knee jerk. [1890 95] … Useful english dictionary
reflex arc — n the complete nervous path that is involved in a reflex * * * the nervous circuit involved in a reflex, being at its simplest a sensory nerve with a receptor, linked at a synapse in the brain or spinal cord with a motor nerve, which supplies a… … Medical dictionary
