Levi Wiedmann

Coach Kramer

Adv. Sports Medicine, Period 1

11 September 2017

Reflex Arc Lab

TITLE: Reflex Arc Lab

PURPOSE: To test the athlete's sensory and motor neurons to see if the tested area is or is not

injured. As well as testing to see if there is any nerve damage.

BACKGROUND: Reflexes involuntary movements caused by a stimulus that travels to the

brain. These involuntary movements travel through a pathway called a reflex arc.There are two

types of reflexes, somatic and autonomic. Somatic reflexes, involve the nervous system and

stimulation of skeletal muscles. Autonomic reflexes are occur by activation of cardiac and

smooth muscle as well as the glands. Both

reflexes create a contraction of a muscle.

HYPOTHESIS: I think that when the subjects eyes are closed, they will have a greater reaction

than when their eyes are open. When they can see it coming they know what's going to happen.

MATERIALS: Reflex Hammer, neurological pin wheel

PROCEDURE:

1. Place the athlete on a table sitting up right to test the patella tendon reflex. Have their legs in

a relax position

2. Hit the patella with the hammer

3. Record their reflex

4. To test the Achilles have the athlete in a prone position with their lower legs off the table

5. Hit the Achilles with the hammer

6. Record their reflex

7. To test a babinski reflex the athlete can sit or lie supine.

8. Start at the heel and go to the big toe.

9. Record their reflex

10. To test the triceps have the athlete sit on a table, have them raise their elbow up to shoulder

height, relaxing the rest of their arm.

11. Hit the triceps closest to the elbow

12. Record their reflex

DATA:

Reflex: eyes open Partner one: left Partner one: right Partner two: left Partner two: right

Patellar Yes Yes Yes Yes

Achilles Yes Yes Yes Yes

Babinski Yes Yes Yes Yes

Triceps Yes No No Yes

Reflex: eyes Partner one: left Partner one: right Partner two: left Partner two: right
closed

Patellar Yes Yes Yes No

Achilles Yes Yes Yes Yes

Babinski Yes Yes Yes Yes

Triceps Yes No Yes Yes

ANALYSIS: Compare left and right responses for each partner.

For the most part, both of my partners results were the same. The only ones different for eyes

closed were the triceps. One had no reflex in the right arm while the other didn't have it in the

left arm. For the differences of eyes closed there was almost none. Partner two had no reflex in

the right patella but had a reflex to everything else. While partner one only had no reflect in the

right tricep.

CONCLUSION: Hypothesis supported? Give evidence

My hypothesis was wrong. Even with the subjects eyes closed, they seemed to have the same

reflex as they did when their eyes were open. I thought when they didn't see it coming it would

surprise them, causing a greater reflex. I think if we one thing we could have done was hit the

area at constant force. Most of the time we hit the area at a different force cause a less or stronger

reaction. I learned about more reflexes in this lab. Before I had only really used the patella

tendon reflex. I learned about a reflex arc as well and how it works. It goes so fast it almost skips

the brain, the sensory and motor neurons are used right away, then it is sent to the brain to you to

think about it after the action.