Reflexes

Knee-jerk or patellar reflex

Your partner should sit
on the edge of the desk
to let his legs hang
freely.
Feel the soft groove
just below the patella.
Strike the ligament
sharply with the
hammer.
The normal response is
movement of the lower
leg upwards.

Cilio-spinal reflex
Gently, but firmly,
pinch the skin of the
nape of your partners
neck.
Note the reaction in
the pupils.
It is normal to see the
pupils constrict and
then dilate.

Sneezing reflex
Tickle the lining of
your partners nose,
just inside the nostril.
Be careful not to let
your partner breathe
in the thread.
It is normal to sneeze.

Corneal reflex
Touch your partners
eyelashes gently by
using the cotton ball,
but use the element
of surprise.
What happened?
Does your partner
wear contact lenses?
Do you think this
might have an effect
on the results?

Achilles tendon reflex

Have your lab partner
kneel on a chair or sit
on a desk or table so
that his ankles hang
freely over the edge.
Carefully tap the
Achilles tendon. You
should observe
plantar flexion in the
subject.

Biceps-jerk reflex
Hold your partners
elbow with your thumb
pressed on the distal
tendon of the biceps
brachii.
Strike the thumb with
the pointed end of the
reflex hammer (the
mallet end). Be sure not
to strike the biceps
brachii tendon directly
with the hammer.

Brachioradialis reflex
Your lab partner should
rest his arm (palm
down) on his leg.
Strike the radius of his
arm with the wide end
of the hammer at a
point that is about one
inch proximal to where
it meets the wrist.
The normal response is
forearm flexion and
supination of the hand
(rotation of the thumbs
up and out).

Glabellar reflex
Ask your partner to sit
quietly with eyes closed
and eye glasses
removed.
With the middle finger,
sharply tap the glabella
(the flattened portion of
the forehead).
You should notice
reactions such as
blinking, even though
the eyes are closed.