Why does a medical doctor often tests the knee for reflexes? What is it really testing for ? Surely not that single area for a single purpose (reflex). What am I missing?
In: Biology
I’ll try an Eli5 again.
Yes it is part of a Neuro exam.
The stretch reflex test is aimed at isolating a neurological lesion to a specific area.
HypOreflexia (lack of reflex) indicates an injury to a nerve outside of the brain and spinal cord.
HypERreflexia (the opposite) indicates an issue within the brain and spinal cord.
Furthermore, a lesion can be isolated to a specific spinal cord level by using a specific “myotome” (group of muscles associated with a spinal cord level) and the associated tendon reflex test.
Ie. patella tendon reflex is hypOreflexive = a potential lesion to L2-L4 spinal nerves peripheral to the spinal cord.
HypERreflexive = lesion within the brain/spinal cord
Hope that was Eli5 enough. It gets way more complicated.
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