patellar reflex
Camille Martinez
Bio 217.08
Instructor: Joyce Avedesian
Environmental Stimulus and Physical Effects on Patellar Reflex
May 8, 2014
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to monitor our body’s reaction to stimulation and see how our nervous system, specifically the somatic nervous system can affect the patellar reflex. “The patellar reflex, also known as the knee jerk reflex is an example of a simple two neuron, monosynaptic reflex arc”(Marieb, Mitchell and Smith, 2014).
We tested the strength of the knee reflex activity and whether it was affected by mental distraction, muscular fatigue or simultaneous muscle activity. Our hypothesis was that our reflex response would be less vigorous with mental distraction, simultaneous muscle activity of other areas of the body, and muscle fatigue.
To test our hypothesis on patellar reflex with mental distraction we tested our subject by having her add three digit numbers undistracted. We then had her add with distraction in two trials. To test the simultaneous muscle activity, our subject sat on a bench, while grasping the edge of the bench and pulling upwards at the same time for three trials. The test for muscular fatigue, we had our subject step up and down on a stepper until she felt fatigue. We then tested her reflex response after the exercise.
Results
The mental distraction test with no distraction (control test) resulted in a four second response to stimuli. The next two trials with mental distraction also resulted in four seconds. We noted that the response to the stimuli was consistent with this experiment.
Three trials were performed for the simultaneous muscle activity. The first trial our subject did no activity, this being our control test, it resulted in a five second response to stimuli. Trial number two with the bench activity resulted in a six second response and the third trial in a seven second response to stimuli. We noted that the response to stimuli
Bio 217.08
Instructor: Joyce Avedesian
Environmental Stimulus and Physical Effects on Patellar Reflex
May 8, 2014
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to monitor our body’s reaction to stimulation and see how our nervous system, specifically the somatic nervous system can affect the patellar reflex. “The patellar reflex, also known as the knee jerk reflex is an example of a simple two neuron, monosynaptic reflex arc”(Marieb, Mitchell and Smith, 2014).
We tested the strength of the knee reflex activity and whether it was affected by mental distraction, muscular fatigue or simultaneous muscle activity. Our hypothesis was that our reflex response would be less vigorous with mental distraction, simultaneous muscle activity of other areas of the body, and muscle fatigue.
To test our hypothesis on patellar reflex with mental distraction we tested our subject by having her add three digit numbers undistracted. We then had her add with distraction in two trials. To test the simultaneous muscle activity, our subject sat on a bench, while grasping the edge of the bench and pulling upwards at the same time for three trials. The test for muscular fatigue, we had our subject step up and down on a stepper until she felt fatigue. We then tested her reflex response after the exercise.
Results
The mental distraction test with no distraction (control test) resulted in a four second response to stimuli. The next two trials with mental distraction also resulted in four seconds. We noted that the response to the stimuli was consistent with this experiment.
Three trials were performed for the simultaneous muscle activity. The first trial our subject did no activity, this being our control test, it resulted in a five second response to stimuli. Trial number two with the bench activity resulted in a six second response and the third trial in a seven second response to stimuli. We noted that the response to stimuli
References: Marieb, Elaine Nicpon, and Katja Hoehn. Human Anatomy & Physiology. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print Marieb, Elaine Nicpon, Susan J. Mitchell and Lori A. Smith. Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual. 11th ed. Glanview: Pearson, 2014. Print