stretch reflex
Automatic muscle contraction
A stretch reflex is an automatic muscle contraction triggered when that muscle is stretched.
The classic example is the knee-jerk reflex: tapping the patellar tendon stretches the quadriceps, which contracts involuntarily, kicking the lower leg forward.
Doctors test stretch reflexes to assess nervous system function.
The reflex helps maintain posture and muscle tone without conscious effort.
- tendonMuscle-to-bone connector
- spindleRotating rod for thread
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- knee jerk reactionAutomatic unthinking response
- patellarOf the kneecap
hammer · muscle contraction · proprioception · muscle tone · spinal cord · quadriceps · tap · involuntary · motor neuron · lower motor neuron · length · tension · alpha · gamma · rapid · automatic · protective · tone
- reflexesknee jerk, knee-jerk, clonus, blink, flinch
- Neuromuscularmotor neuron, motor cortex, motor control, acetylcholine, skeletal muscle
- plyometricsbox jumps, tuck jumps, squat jumps, bounding, bounds
- motor skillsmotor skills, fine motor skills, motor control, gross motor skills, walking
- musclesmuscle, biceps, triceps, abs, hamstrings
stretch, reflex, stretches, stretched, stretching, stretchy, stretchable, stretcher, reflexes