| knee jerk | The reflex tested by tapping just below the bent knee on the patellar tendon to cause the quadriceps muscle to contract and bring the lower leg forward. It has given rise to the saying: a knee-jerk reaction. Also known medically as the patellar reflex. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| knee-jerk reflex | A sudden contraction of the anterior muscles of the thigh, caused by a smart tap on the patellar tendon while the leg hangs loosely at a right angle with the thigh. Synonym: knee jerk, knee phenomenon, knee reflex, knee-jerk reflex, patellar tendon reflex, quadriceps reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |