this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2026
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What is that reaction? I honestly don't know
Well-outside my wheelhouse mate, but since it’s been 3 days I’m likely all you’ll get…
Patellar reflex.
It’s a [muscle] stretch [-correction] reflex (sympathetic response) which occurs in the bones protecting the spinal cord (vertebrae depicted in OP) of many animals that have them.
Your doctor activates this reflex on purpose by gently striking an exposed tendon beneath the patella (the knee bone) to observe the strength of the response.
A lack of it (the joke above) is always abnormal and merits further investigation, as it could suggest neuropathy or injury to the central nervous system.
Thanks