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knee-jerk reflex
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Diagram showing the knee jerk reflex: a reflex hammer strikes the patellar tendon below the knee, activating a stretch receptor in the quadriceps muscle. This sends a signal through a sensory neuron to the spinal cord, where it connects to a motor neuron. The motor neuron then signals the muscle to contract, causing the lower leg to kick forward. The diagram also illustrates the pathway of sensory and motor neurons and their connection in the spinal cord.

knee-jerk reflex: References & Edit History

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Add new Web site: Medicine LibreTexts - Patellar and Achilles Reflexes. Jun 20, 2023
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Classification and Assessment of the Patelar Reflex Response through Biomechanical Measures. May 12, 2023
Added diagram depicting knee-jerk reflex. Jun 09, 2011
Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Patellar Reflex. Jul 29, 2010
Add new Web site: MedicineNet.com - Knee Jerk Reflex. Jul 29, 2010
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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