{"id":4769,"date":"2020-12-30T18:59:26","date_gmt":"2020-12-30T18:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vetmed.illinois.edu\/demo-sa-orthopedics\/?page_id=4769"},"modified":"2021-01-03T02:11:01","modified_gmt":"2021-01-03T02:11:01","slug":"miscellaneous-reflexes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vetmed.illinois.edu\/demo-sa-orthopedics\/miscellaneous-reflexes\/","title":{"rendered":"Miscellaneous Reflexes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spinal reflexes<\/strong>\u00a0(myotactic reflexes) test the integrity of sensory and motor components of the reflex arc and the influence of descending motor pathways on the reflex. An absent or depressed reflex indicates complete or partial loss of either the sensory or motor nerves responsible for the reflex (lower motor neuron [LMN]) A normal reflex indices that sensory and motor nerves are intact. An exaggerated reflex indicates an abnormality in the descending pathways from the brain and spinal cord that normally inhibit the reflex (upper motor neuron [UMN]). In general, forelimb reflexes are not as reliable for localizing lesions as rear limb reflexes.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Sciatic Reflex<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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The perineal or anal sphincter reflex<\/strong> is elicited by gentle perineal stimulation with a needle or forceps.<\/p>\n

A normal response is contraction of the anal sphincter muscle.<\/p>\n

Sensory and motor innervation for the anal sphincter reflex occurs through the pudendal nerve (perineal nerve is sensory; caudal rectal nerve is motor) and spinal cord segments S1-S3. Absence or depression<\/p>\n

of the reflex (failure of the anus to contract) indicates a sacral spinal cord or pudendal nerve lesion (LMN). An exaggerated response indicates a lesion above the S1 spinal cord segment.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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