extensor reflex

The extensor reflex is a sudden, involuntary extension of a leg in response to upward pressure on the sole of the foot. This reflex is part of a reflex arc, which is the complete nervous pathway involved in a reflex action.12

The simplest reflex arc involves a receptor that detects a stimulus, sensory neurons that transmit this information to the central nervous system, and motor neurons that activate effector muscles to produce the response. In the case of the extensor reflex, upward pressure on the sole stimulates receptors, which send signals via sensory neurons to the spinal cord. Here, the signals are processed, leading to motor neurons that cause the leg's extensor muscles to contract, resulting in extension. This mechanism helps maintain balance and posture.3456