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Striking the patellar ligament with a tendon hammer just below the patella stretches the quadriceps muscles in the thigh. This stimulates stretch sensory receptors (most importantly, muscle spindles) that trigger an afferent impulse in a sensory nerve fiber of the femoral nerve leading to the lumbar region of the spinal cord. There, the sensory neuron synapses directly with a motor neuron that conducts an efferent impulse to the quadriceps femoris muscle, triggering contraction. This contraction, coordinated with the relaxation of the antagonistic flexor hamstring muscle causes the leg to kick. This reflex helps maintain posture and balance, allowing one to walk without consciously thinking about each step. 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 bipolar sensory neuron synapses directly on a motor neuron in the spinal cord' However, there is an inhibitory interneuron used to relax the antagonistic hamstring muscle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knee_jerk

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Q: You hit your knee a rubber hammer and it jerks?
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Related questions

What kind of tool does dr hit your knee with?

hammer knee


What kind of tool does a doctor hit your knee with?

Doctor's use a knee hammer to see how well your knee reflexes work


What is an example of a human reflex?

The most well-known human reflex is the knee-jerk (or patella) reflex. This is the one where you use a reflex hammer to hit the tendon just below the kneecap (or patella). The leg jerks out like you're kicking.


How can you use mallet in a sentence?

A mallet is a type of hammer, usually made of wood or rubber. Here are some sentences.The doctor hit my knee with a little rubber mallet and made it jerk.He tapped the board into place with a wooden mallet.She used a mallet and chisel to carve the stone into the shape of a bird.


Why does some boxers hit a rubber tire with a big hammer?

It's good training/exercise.


What does the knee jerk help to maintain?

The knee jerk helps doctors know the your nervous system is healthy. If they tap the hammer thing and nothing happens, something is wrong with your body or they hit it in the wrong spot:)


How the nervous system work when you accidentally dropped a ballpen?

If you drop a pen and quickly try to catch it that would be a proper example of a reflex, which is different from an arc reflex which is what happens when you hit your knee and it jerks.


How do you remove the fan clutch on a 1991 Ford ranger?

BEFOR TAKING THE BELT OFF, GET A BIG WRENCH THAT FITS THE FAN, AND A BIG RUBBER HAMMER. IT'S A LEFT HAND THREAD. PUT THE WRENCH ON AND HIT IT WITH THE HAMMER.


Why did tonya harding cheat in the Olympics?

she was a pro skater and she wanted to win o she payed omeone to hit her in the knee with a hammer or something and she won but got kicked out of the Olympics


What bone are you most likely to hit if you bang your knee?

If you bang you knee right below the knee cap (patella), you will hit your shin bone (tibia). If you hit right on the knee it will be your patella.


When was It Hit Me Like a Hammer created?

It Hit Me Like a Hammer was created in 1991.


How does the nervous system work when you accidentally dropped a ball pen on the floor and you pick it up?

if you drop a pen and quickly try to catch it that would be a proper example of a reflex ,which is different from an arc reflex which is what happens when you hit your knee and it jerks