| reflex | 1. <anatomy> Reflected. 2. <neurology, physiology> A reflected action or movement, the sum total of any particular involuntary activity. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| reflex angina | Angina pectoris in which the breast pain is comparatively slight, but pallor followed by cyanosis, and coldness and numbness of the extremities, are marked. Synonym: angina spuria, angina vasomotoria, pseudangina, pseudoangina, reflex angina, vasomotor angina. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex arc | The route followed by nerve impulses in the production of a reflex act, from the peripheral receptor organ through the afferent nerve to the central nervous system synapse and then through the efferent nerve to the effector organ. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex asthma | Asthma occurring as a reflex in disease of the viscera, the nose, or other parts. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex control | Nerve impulses transmitted to the muscles to maintain normal reflex action. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex cough | A cough excited reflexly by irritation in some distant part, as the ear or the stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex detrusor contraction | Normal coordinated function of the bladder with sustained contractions of the bladder matched by simultaneous relaxation of the sphincteric outlet mechanisms to empty the bladder. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex dyspepsia | Functional dyspepsia excited by reflex irritation from disease elsewhere than in the stomach or intestines. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex epilepsy | Seizures which are induced by peripheral stimulation; e.g., audiogenic, laryngeal, photogenic, or other stimulation. Synonym: sensory precipitated epilepsy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex headache | A headache secondary to another organic condition. Synonym: reflex headache. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex incontinence | In neurogenic disorders, loss of urine due to detrusor hyperreflexia and/or involuntary urethral relaxation in the absence of the desire to void. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex inhibition | A situation in which sensory stimuli decrease reflex activity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex iridoplegia | Absence of the pupillary light reflex, as in the Argyll Robertson pupil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex ligament | <anatomy> A triangular fibrous band extending from the aponeurosis of the external oblique to the pubic tubercle of the opposite side. See: aponeurosis of external abdominal oblique muscle. Synonym: ligamentum reflexum, Colles' ligament, fascia triangularis abdominis, reflex ligament, triangular fascia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex movement | An involuntary movement resulting from a sensory stimulus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominocardiac reflex | Mechanical stimulation (usually distention) of abdominal viscera causing changes (usually a slowing) in the heart rate or the occurrence of extrasystoles. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Abrams' heart reflex | A contraction of the myocardium when the skin of the precordial region is irritated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accommodation reflex | Increased convexity of the lens, due to contraction of the ciliary muscle and relaxation of the suspensory ligament, to maintain a distinct retinal image. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Achilles reflex | A contraction of the calf muscles when the tendo calcaneus is sharply struck. Synonym: ankle jerk, ankle reflex, tendo Achillis reflex, triceps surae reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acousticopalpebral reflex | A form of the wink reflex in which there is a contraction, sometimes very slight, of the orbicularis palpebrarum muscle when a sudden noise is made close to the ear; it is absent in labyrinthine disease with total deafness. Synonym: acousticopalpebral reflex, auropalpebral reflex, cochleo-orbicular reflex, startle reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acquired reflex | A reflex that is gradually developed by training and association through the frequent repetition of a definite stimulus. See: conditioning. Synonym: acquired reflex, behaviour reflex, trained reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acromial reflex | Contraction of the biceps muscle caused by a tap on the acromion or the coracoid process. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute reflex bone atrophy | Atrophy of bones, commonly of the carpal or tarsal bones, following a slight injury such as a sprain. See: causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Synonym: acute reflex bone atrophy, posttraumatic osteoporosis, Sudeck's syndrome. Origin: L. English sweat (05 Mar 2000) |
| adductor reflex | Contraction of the adductors of the thigh caused by tapping the tendon of the adductor magnus muscle while the thigh is abducted. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anal reflex | Contraction of the internal sphincter gripping the finger passed into the rectum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ankle reflex | A contraction of the calf muscles when the tendo calcaneus is sharply struck. Synonym: ankle jerk, ankle reflex, tendo Achillis reflex, triceps surae reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aortic reflex | A fall in blood pressure due to peripheral vasodilation and cardiac inhibition by stimulations of terminations of a cardiac depressor nerve in the aortic arch and base of the heart. Synonym: aortic reflex, depressor reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aponeurotic reflex | Plantar flexion of the foot and toes elicited by tapping the sole near its outer edge; has the same significance as the Rossolimo toe flexion reflex Also called Guillain-Barre, Weingrow's, or sole tap reflex. Synonym: Guillain-Barre reflex, sole tap reflex, Weingrow's reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Aschner-Dagnini reflex | A decrease in pulse rate associated with traction on extraocular muscles or compression of the eyeball; especially sensitive in children; may produce asystolic cardiac arrest. Synonym: Aschner's phenomenon, Aschner's reflex, Aschner-Dagnini reflex, oculovagal reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Aschner's reflex | A decrease in pulse rate associated with traction on extraocular muscles or compression of the eyeball; especially sensitive in children; may produce asystolic cardiac arrest. Synonym: Aschner's phenomenon, Aschner's reflex, Aschner-Dagnini reflex, oculovagal reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |