Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

4.1K
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...
4.1K
Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

2.7K
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...
2.7K
The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

2.0K
Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating...
2.0K
Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles01:29

Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles

5.2K
The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....
5.2K
Fascicle Arrangement in Skeletal Muscles01:25

Fascicle Arrangement in Skeletal Muscles

3.5K
Fascicles are bundles of muscle fibers in a skeletal muscle. Muscle fascicle arrangement is directly associated with the power and range of motion of various muscles. The configuration of these fascicles can vary, leading to different functional outcomes.
The four primary types of muscle based on fascicle arrangement are:
3.5K
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants01:28

Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

2.9K
Skeletal muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that can reduce muscle stiffness and induce temporary paralysis to relieve pain. These agents can act centrally to reduce muscle tone or spasms in painful conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or spinal injuries; they are called antispasmodics or spasmolytics.
Peripherally acting skeletal muscle relaxants interfere with the neurotransmission at the neuromuscular end plate to induce paralysis during...
2.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Online planning of sequential actions.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same author

Sequence preparation is not always associated with a reaction time cost.

Journal of neurophysiology·2026
Same author

Infinite Horizon Control With Nonlinear Dynamics Models Reproduces Temporal Modulation of Reaching Movements.

Neural computation·2026
Same author

Integration of Memory and Sensory Information in Skilled Sequence Production.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same author

Speed-dependent modulation of tactile edge orientation discrimination.

Journal of neurophysiology·2026
Same author

High performance sorting of motor unit action potentials with EMUsort.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

Increased rates of hybridization in swordtails are associated with water pollution.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Visual uncertainty and task demands shape active sensing strategies in mice.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

An adaptable, self-organizing, single-cell morphology circuit optimizes suctorian predatory trap structure.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Temporal tuning of switch-like virulence expression resolves environmental uncertainty through phenotypic heterogeneity.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

An abstract relational map emerges in the human medial prefrontal cortex with consolidation.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Phloem evolved gradually and asynchronously to xylem in early vascular plants.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
14:55

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

14.1K

Stretch reflexes.

Sasha Reschechtko1, J Andrew Pruszynski1

  • 1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

Current Biology : CB
|September 22, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Stretch reflexes, commonly known from the knee-jerk test, are crucial for mammalian motor control. These reflexes are highly flexible, involving complex neural circuits beyond the spinal cord to support real-world movements.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
07:53

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Published on: September 13, 2015

22.5K
Terminal H-reflex Measurements in Mice
05:38

Terminal H-reflex Measurements in Mice

Published on: June 16, 2022

6.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
14:55

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

14.1K
Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
07:53

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Published on: September 13, 2015

22.5K
Terminal H-reflex Measurements in Mice
05:38

Terminal H-reflex Measurements in Mice

Published on: June 16, 2022

6.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Stretch reflexes are often simplified as basic spinal circuits resisting unexpected muscle length changes.
  • The common knee-jerk reflex exemplifies a diagnostic application of stretch reflexes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline current knowledge on stretch reflex functions and mechanisms.
  • To emphasize the flexibility and broader roles of stretch reflexes in motor behavior.
  • To explore how nested reflex responses interact for real-world motor control.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on stretch reflex physiology and neural circuitry.
  • Analysis of how peripheral factors influence reflex modulation.
  • Examination of neural pathways involved, including spinal, brainstem, and cortical circuits.

Main Results:

  • Stretch reflexes are not limited to simple spinal circuits but are highly adaptable.
  • Peripheral physiology significantly shapes reflex responses under natural conditions.
  • Complex neural networks across the central nervous system contribute to stretch reflex functions.

Conclusions:

  • Stretch reflexes are fundamental, flexible components of mammalian motor control.
  • Understanding the interplay of nested responses is key to comprehending real-world motor behavior.
  • Further research into the integrated neural mechanisms of stretch reflexes is warranted.