Reflex Physiology Lab Report

Type :

Case study

Pages :

4 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

10/23/2007

Category :

Science & technology

Sub category :

Medical studies

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Summary :

Introduction
1. The neuron
2. The connection between one neuron and its effector
Materials and methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Works cited

Abstract

Our experiment was concerned with the reflex response in humans, and how it compares to a voluntary neural pathway as well as how it is enhanced by what is known as the Jendrassik Maneuver. Our hypothesis was that the reflex response would be faster than the voluntary response, and that with the Jendrassik maneuver, the reflex would be even more responsive. We predicted the latency to be lower for the reflex as compared to the voluntary response, and the amplitude to be higher for the reflex with the Jendrassik maneuver as compared to the reflex on its own. We conducted this experiment with the help of an apparatus that measured the angle during leg movement after the reflex. Specifically, flexion of the quadriceps (the reflex response) would cause the leg to kick out. The apparatus was basically two pieces of plastic connected to each other at a joint. One piece was attached to the calf and the other to the thigh. When the leg kicked out, the angle at which the two pieces of plastic connected changed, and the magnitude of change was recorded on a computer hooked up to the device. It would serve well to understand some background information about the neuron, neurotransmitters and their receptors, excitatory/inhibitory reflexes, and involuntary reflexes.