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Related Concept Videos

Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from potential harm. For example, when a bright light suddenly shines into our eyes, we instinctively close them or look away. This is a simple reflex activity orchestrated by the nervous system without conscious thought or effort.
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...

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Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
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Applying the extensor digitorum reflex to neurological examination.

Ming-Juan Zhang1, Can-Zhan Zhu, Zong-ming Duan

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, China. zhangmingjuan@mail.xjtu.edu.cn

Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku Zasshi
|November 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The extensor digitorum reflex is a sensitive and useful deep tendon reflex for neurological examinations. It demonstrates comparable sensitivity and specificity to biceps and brachioradialis reflexes in clinical assessments.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neuroscience
  • Neurophysiology

Background:

  • Deep tendon reflexes are crucial in neurological examinations for assessing upper motor neuron lesions.
  • The extensor digitorum reflex's diagnostic utility is less established compared to biceps and brachioradialis reflexes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the diagnostic value of the extensor digitorum reflex in neurologic examinations.
  • To compare the sensitivity and specificity of the extensor digitorum reflex with conventional reflexes.

Main Methods:

  • Compared extensor digitorum, biceps, and brachioradialis reflexes in 65 hemiplegic patients and 120 healthy controls.
  • Utilized conventional elicitation methods and a novel technique for the extensor digitorum reflex.
  • Assessed sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic efficacy of each reflex.

Main Results:

  • Extensor digitorum reflex sensitivity: 93.65%; Specificity: 95.83%.
  • Biceps reflex sensitivity: 90.48%; Specificity: 94.17%.
  • Brachioradialis reflex sensitivity: 90.48%; Specificity: 93.33%.
  • No significant differences (p > 0.05) in sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy were found among the three reflexes.

Conclusions:

  • The extensor digitorum reflex is a highly sensitive and specific deep tendon reflex.
  • It is a valuable and suitable addition for routine neurological examinations.
  • Its diagnostic performance is comparable to established reflexes like biceps and brachioradialis.