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What does it mean when you have no ankle reflexes?
When reflex responses are absent this could be a clue that the spinal cord, nerve root, peripheral nerve, or muscle has been damaged. When reflex response is abnormal, it may be due to the disruption of the sensory (feeling) or motor (movement) nerves or both.
What causes absent reflexes?
Peripheral neuropathy is today the most common cause of absent reflexes. The causes include diseases such as diabetes, alcoholism, amyloidosis, uremia; vitamin deficiencies such as pellagra, beriberi, pernicious anemia; remote cancer; toxins including lead, arsenic, isoniazid, vincristine, diphenylhydantoin.
Which nerve is responsible for ankle jerk reflex?
The ankle jerk reflex is mediated by the S1 nerve root. The plantar reflex (Babinski) is tested by coarsely running a key or the end of the reflex hammer up the lateral aspect of the foot from heel to big toe. The normal reflex is toe flexion.
What does it mean if deep tendon reflexes are absent?
Deep tendon reflexes may be absent when either the afferent volley is unable to access the spinal cord (sensory polyneuropathy, the spinocerebellar degenerations, root avulsion) or when the resulting efferent volley is unable to access the muscle (motor neuronopathy, radiculopathy, and certain neuromuscular junction …
Why is the ankle jerk reflex important?
It is a type of stretch reflex that tests the function of the gastrocnemius muscle and the nerve that supplies it. A positive result would be the jerking of the foot towards its plantar surface. Being a deep tendon reflex, it is monosynaptic.
Is it bad if you don’t have a knee reflex?
Pathological Reflexes. Many reflexes are normal. For example, the knee jerk is a normal reflex and the absence of this reflex would be considered abnormal. Many reflexes are normal in a newborn or young child but would be abnormal if found in an adult.
What is the medical definition of an ankle jerk?
Slightly externally rotate at the hip and gently dorsiflex the foot, tapping the Achilles tendon with a reflex hammer; there should be a reflex contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle (plantar flexion). Segen’s Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved. Ankle reflex, see there, aka Achilles tendon reflex.
What does the absence of a knee jerk mean?
neurology, notes, practical notes, reflex Absent knee jerk signifies the lesion at the level of L4 spinal segment. Absence of the knee jerk signify an abnormality anywhere within the reflex arc, including the muscle spindle, the Ia afferent nerve fibers, or the motor neurons to the quadriceps muscle.
What causes a delay in the ankle jerk reflex?
It is classically delayed in hypothyroidism. This reflex is usually absent in disk herniations at the L 5—S 1 level. A reduction in the ankle jerk reflex may also be indicative of peripheral neuropathy.
What is the significance of an absent ankle reflex?
The significance of an absent ankle reflex We assessed the prevalence of abnormal ankle reflexes in 1074 adult patients attending orthopaedic clinics and related it to age. Those with possible pathological causes of reflex loss were excluded. The absence of one or both reflexes was significantly related to increasing age; all patients under …