| stretch reflex | Tonic contraction of the muscles in response to a stretching force, due to stimulation of muscle proprioceptors. Synonym: Liddell-Sherrington reflex, muscular reflex, stretch reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| reflex, stretch | Reflex contraction of a muscle in response to stretching, which stimulates muscle proprioceptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| pulmonary stretch receptors | Stretch receptors found in the bronchi and bronchioles. Pulmonary stretch receptors are sensors for a reflex which stops inspiration. In humans, the reflex is protective and is probably not activated during normal respiration. (12 Dec 1998) |
| stretch | 1. To reach out; to extend; to put forth. "And stretch forth his neck long and small." (Chaucer) "I in conquest stretched mine arm." (Shak) 2. To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope. 3. To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings. 4. To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly. "The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain." (Shak) 5. To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle. "Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve." (Doddridge) 6. To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit. "They take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative." (Burke) Origin: OE. Strecchen, AS. Streccan; akin to D. Strekken, G. Strecken, OHG. Strecchen, Sw. Stracka, Dan. Straekke; cf. AS. Straeck, strec, strong, violent, G. Strack straight; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to E. Strong. Cf. Straight. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| stretch marks | Bands of thin wrinkled skin, initially red but becoming purple and white, which occur commonly on the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs at puberty and/or during and following pregnancy, and result from atrophy of the dermis and overextension of the skin; also associated with ascites and Cushing's syndrome. Synonym: atrophoderma striatum, lineae albicantes, lineae atrophicae, linear atrophy, stretch marks, stria, striae atrophicae, striate atrophy of skin, traction atrophy, vergeture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stretch receptors | Receptor's that are sensitive to elongation, especially those in Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindles, but also those found in visceral organs such as the stomach, small intestine, and urinary bladder; these receptor's have the function of detecting elongation, and this distinguishes them from baroreceptors, which actually are activated by stretching of the wall of the blood vessel but whose function is to elicit central reflex mechanism reducing the arterial blood pressure. (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) |
| 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) |