How Do You Spell PATELLAR REFLEX?

Pronunciation: [pˈe͡ɪtə͡lə ɹˈiːflɛks] (IPA)

The term "patellar reflex," also known as the "knee jerk" reflex, refers to the involuntary movement of the leg in response to a tap on the patellar tendon just below the kneecap. The spelling of this word is based on its roots: "patella," meaning kneecap, and "reflex," meaning an automatic bodily response to a stimulus. The IPA phonetic transcription for "patellar reflex" is /pæˈtɛlər rɪˈflɛks/, with the stress on the second syllable of both words.

PATELLAR REFLEX Meaning and Definition

1. The patellar reflex, also known as the knee-jerk reflex, is a neurological response that occurs when the patellar tendon is tapped with a reflex hammer or a similar object. It is an involuntary, rapid contraction of the quadriceps muscle (located at the front of the thigh) in response to the stretch stimulus applied to the tendon. This reflex is mediated by the monosynaptic connection between the sensory neuron and the motor neuron in the spinal cord.

   During the patellar reflex, the sensory neuron in the quadriceps tendon is stimulated by the abrupt stretch caused by the hammer tap. The sensory neuron then sends the signal to the spinal cord, where it synapses directly with the motor neuron. The motor neuron, in turn, relays the signal back to the muscle, causing a contraction to occur. This reflexive action is essential for maintaining balance and coordination while standing or walking.

   The patellar reflex is commonly used in clinical examinations to assess nervous system function, specifically the integrity of the reflex arc. A diminished or absent reflex response may indicate a neurological disorder, such as damage to the spinal cord, a nerve injury, or certain types of muscular diseases. Conversely, an exaggerated or hyperactive response may be indicative of certain conditions, including an overactive thyroid gland or certain neurological disorders.

   Overall, the patellar reflex serves as an important diagnostic tool in evaluating the health and integrity of the nervous system, particularly the spinal cord and associated nerve pathways.

Common Misspellings for PATELLAR REFLEX

• oatellar reflex
• latellar reflex
• -atellar reflex
• 0atellar reflex
• pztellar reflex
• pstellar reflex
• pwtellar reflex
• pqtellar reflex
• parellar reflex
• pafellar reflex
• pagellar reflex
• payellar reflex
• pa6ellar reflex
• pa5ellar reflex
• patwllar reflex
• patsllar reflex
• patdllar reflex
• patrllar reflex
• pat4llar reflex

Etymology of PATELLAR REFLEX

The term "patellar reflex" is derived from the Latin word "patella", which means "kneecap". The reflex itself refers to the automatic contraction of the quadriceps muscle when the patellar tendon is tapped just below the patella, causing the leg to extend. Thus, the term "patellar reflex" specifically refers to the reflex action involving the patella, which is an essential component of the knee joint.