Knee-jerk Reflex (Noun)
Meaning
A reflex extension of the leg resulting from a sharp tap on the patellar tendon.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The doctor used a reflex hammer to test John's knee-jerk reflex during his physical exam.
- When the physician tapped her knee with a reflex hammer, her leg automatically extended due to her knee-jerk reflex.
- The neurologist explained to the patient that damage to the nervous system could affect his knee-jerk reflex.
- The physical therapist used the absence of a knee-jerk reflex to diagnose nerve damage in the patient's leg.
- During the routine check-up, the knee-jerk reflex was one of the several reflexes the doctor tested to assess the patient's neurological function.