How do you observe the reflex flawlessly?
What's the procedure?
Am I silly?
2007-03-02 01:20:52 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It's the sudden stretching of the patellar tendon that does it. With the leg dangling loosely and the knee bent at about a ninety degree angle, feel the area of the tendon between the patella and the anterior tibial tubercle, the bump on the shin just a bit below. Rap it briskly, and you should get a response. It's a tiny response and difficult to appreciate in some people. To enhance the knee jerk, have him hold his hands cupped in each other with the hands at mid-chest and the elbows winged out to the sides, and have him pull against himself. While he's doing this, the knee-jerk will be accentuated. Now it's time to move on to others, like the biceps or brachioradialis. Have fun.
2007-03-02 01:53:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell him people have nerves inside of them like they have organs and blood vessels and muscles. Then draw a picture of a nerve and the nervous system from the spinal column. There are points or areas that results in a reflex (if I hit a certain area or on the nerve this jerk which I cannot control happens).
The procedure is to find the nerve and take the side of your hand and gently hit the area until the jerk results...It is funny to a point.
2007-03-02 01:31:55 · answer #2 · answered by Patches6 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To elicit the reflex, make sure you tap the patellar tendon (just below the knee). You can blunt the response by holding your leg tense so a little distraction may be in order. You can ask them to pat their head while rubbing their stomach. While they are figuring that out tap the tendon.
And no, you are not silly.
2007-03-02 04:01:14 · answer #3 · answered by Suedoenimm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When the doctor does it and your knee jerks; it's always a good thing. Why can't you just tell him it's supposed to be that way. Maybe on his knee they didn't tap the exact spot to make his jump. His is probably just fine but it's no sense in keep tapping to find it and make his knee sore. You are not silly but I wouldn't let it worry you.
2007-03-02 02:10:27 · answer #4 · answered by Barbra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have to hit it with enough force at just the right spot on the knee. I haven't mastered it yet, either, but I will not conclude that there's something wrong with ME if I can't make it work.
2007-03-02 04:01:48 · answer #5 · answered by ANT-a-gonistic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋