Abdominal reflex , Plantar reflex:

Abdominal reflex:

Make the subject lie down comfortably on a bed in the supine position. Uncover the abdomen and see that his abdominal muscles are well relaxed. With a blunt object gently stroke on the abdominal skin from lateral to the medial aspect in all the four quadrant. Observe the contraction of the abdominai muscles resulting in deviation of umbilicus towards the area stimulated. In children, obese persons and multi-parous women the reflex may be absent normally.

Thoracic 7th -12th segments are involved. This reflex helps to assess the level of lesion in paraplegia.

(7) Plantar reflex:

The patient is made to lie supine on the bed. Make sure that the muscles of the lower limb are well relaxed. Keep the ankle joint firmly fixed by one hand. To stimulate nociceptor, use an object like a keyte stroke the lateral border of the sole of the foot from the heel to the root of the little toe and then extend it medially to the base of the big toe.

Observation:

Plantar flexion of the big toe with plantar flexion and adduction of other toes. This reflex is centered at the L5 S1 segments of the spinal cord. The afferents and efferents go through the tibial nerve.

Abnormal Plantar reflex:

This is usually seen in pyramidal tract disease. There is dorsiflexion of the big toe with extension and fanning out of other toes. This is also called extensor plantar response or Babinski sign.

(8) Cremasteric reflex:

Gently stroke the skin at upper inner aspect of the thigh. This results in the upward movement of testicle on that side due to the contraction of crem aster muscle.

Reflex pathway:

Afferent limb : Femoral nerve

Centre : L1 2segments

Efferent : Gènito fem oral nerve

B) DEEP REFLEXES: They are stretch reflexes. They are monosynaptic reflexes. They are elicited by stimulation of muscle spindles, for which the muscle has to be passively stretched prior to the elicitation of the reflex.

I . Jaw jerk:

Ask the subject to keep the mouth slightly open. The examiner’s left index finger is placed over the chin of the subject and gently tap the index finger with the tip of the right middle finger. Reflex contraction of the jaw muscles resulting in sudden closure of the mouth. Normally this reflex is very sluggish or even may be absent. Upper motor neuron lesion above the 5th cranial nerve nucleus may cause exaggerated jaw jerk.

The afferents and efferents go through the Trigeminal nerve and the centre is in the pons.

2. Biceps jerk:

Keep the elbow flexed at right angle and forearm in semiprone position supported on the forearm of the examiner. The examiner’s thumb is placed on the biceps tendon and strike on the thumb with a knee hammer.

Observation:

Contraction of biceps which can be seen or felt by palpation resulting in flexion of elbow.

Centre: Cervial 5th and 6th segments are involved.

3. Triceps jerks:

Elbow is kept flexed at 900 and the forearm supported at the wrist. Tap the triceps tendon just proximal to the olecranon process. Contraction of the triceps results in extension of the elbow.

Centre: Cervical 5th & 6th segments.

4. Supinatorjerk:

Keep the elbow semiflexed. Support the forearm. Tap over the tendon on the styloid process of the radius. Flexion of elbow results due to contraction of brachioradialis.

Centre: Cervical 5th and 6th segments 5. Knee jerk:

Make the subject sit on the couch with his knee flexed and leg hanging freely from the edge of the couch. Muscles of the limb should be relaxed. Gently tap on the patellar tendon (quadriceps tendon).

 

 

 

 

 

Reference on Medicinal plants  Part I

Reference on Medicinal plants Part II

 

reference on  Indian medicinal plants and its treatments.