Reflex Test

1. REFLEX TEST
Shamima Akter
B. Sc (Honors) in Occupational Therapy
& M. Sc in Rehabilitation Science
Assistant Professor,
Department of Occupational Therapy
Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI)
Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed
(CRP)
Chapain, Savar

2. REFLEX
Reflex is the involuntary motor response due to any type of
sensory stimulation which is mediated through the Central
Nervous System (CNS).
IMPORTANCE OF EXAMINATION REFLEX
• Skeletal muscles receive segmental innervations. Most of
these muscles are innervated by more than one spinal
nerve and, therefore, by the same number of segments of
the spinal cord.
• It is possible to test either the muscle is paralyzed or not by
eliciting simple muscle reflexes in the patient.

3. CLASSIFICATION OF REFLEX
 Uncondition or inborn: These are fixed, inherent and cannot altered
normally. Example: Knee jerk. It is classified into three types:
 Superficial reflex: Here the stimuli are received by the skin or mucous
membrane. Example: Plantar, abdominal and corneal reflex
 Deep reflex: Here the stimuli are applied on the tendons. Example: Knee
jerk, ankle jerk
 Visceral reflex: These are obtained from deep structures such as viscera.
Example: Micturation, defecation, vomiting

4. Continue…
 Condition reflex: Condition refle is a reflex response
which never produce previously but has been acquired by
pairing the said stimulus repeatedly with one uncondition
stimulus which normally produces the reponse. Example:
Pavlov’s experiment.

5. Deep Muscle
Reflexes
Methods of
Elicitation
Normal Results Segment
Traversed
Biceps
Jerk
Tap biceps tendon Flexion of the forearm at the elbow C5-C6
Triceps Jerk Tap Triceps tendon Extension of the forearm at the
elbow
C6-C7
Brachioradial/
Supinator jerk
Tap styloid process of the
radius, with forearm held in
semipronation
Flexion of the forearm at the elbow C7-C8
Finger flexion/
flexor
Flick palmer surface of the tip
of the finger
Flexion of the fingers C7-T1
Abdominal
Muscle
Tap lowermost portion of the
thorax or abdominal wall; or
tap symphysis pubis
Contraction of the abdominal wall,
when the symphysis is tapped,
adduction of the leg
C8-T12
Knee Jerk Tapping of patellar tendon on
semiflexed knee
Forward jerking of leg due to
contraction of the quadriceps
femoris muscle
L2 to L4
Ankle Jerk Tapping of tendo-calcaneous Plantar flexion of foot due to
contraction of gastrocnemious
L5 to S2

6. Superficial
Reflexes
Methods of
Elicitation
Normal Results Segment
Traversed
Abdominal skin
And muscle
Stroke skin of the upper
abdominal quadrants below
costal margin
Contraction of the abdominal
muscle and retraction of the
umbilicus to the stimulated side
T8-T12
Cremesteric Stroke skin of the upper and
inner thigh
Upward movement of the
testicle
L1- L2
Planter Stroke sole of the foot Planter flexion of the toes L5 & S1
Gluteal Scratching of the skin of
buttock
Contraction of the gluteal
muscles
L4, L5 and upper
saccral segments
Anal Prick skin of the perianal
region
Contraction of the anal
sphincter- ‘’anal wink’’
S4 & S5
Pupillary Fall of light on eye Contraction of pupil 3rd cranial nerve