- Mar 10, 2005
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Striking the patellar tendon with a tendon hammer just below the patella stretches the quadriceps tendon. This stimulates stretch sensory receptors (most importantly, muscle spindles) that triggers an afferent impulse in a sensory nerve fiber of the femoral nerve leading to the lumbar region of the spinal cord. There, the sensory neuron synapses directly with a motor neuron that conducts an efferent impulse to the quadriceps femoris muscle, triggering contraction. This contraction, coordinated with the relaxation of the antagonistic flexor hamstring muscle causes the leg to kick. :up:
Yer wot? :shrug: :duh: :? :eh: