| flexor retinaculum of lower limb | A wide band passing from the medial malleolus to the medial and upper border of the calcaneus and to the plantar surface as far as the navicular bone; it holds in place the tendons of the tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus. Synonym: retinaculum musculorum flexorum, laciniate ligament, ligamentum laciniatum, retinaculum of flexor muscles. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| long flexor muscle of great toe | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, lower two-thirds of posterior surface of fibula; insertion, base of distal phalanx of great toe; action, flexes great toe; nerve supply, medial plantar. Synonym: musculus flexor hallucis longus, long flexor muscle of great toe, musculus flexor longus hallucis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| long flexor muscle of thumb | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, anterior surface of middle third of radius; insertion, distal phalanx of thumb; action, flexes distal phalanx of thumb; nerve supply, median palmar interosseous. Synonym: musculus flexor pollicis longus, long flexor muscle of thumb, musculus flexor longus pollicis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| long flexor muscle of toes | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, middle third of posterior surface of tibia; insertion, by four tendons, perforating those of the flexor brevis, into bases of distal phalanges of four lateral toes; action, flexes second to fifth toes; nerve supply, tibial nerve. Synonym: musculus flexor digitorum longus, long flexor muscle of toes, musculus flexor longus digitorum. (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) |
| 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) |