Question

Think about a “whole-body” withdrawal reflex that you have experienced recently. What was the stimulus and the part of the body that was stimulated? (1) What was the response? (1) Name 2 ipsilateral muscles involved and state the action of those muscles. (2) Name two contralateral muscles that were involved and state their action. (2) Did your body’s response follow expectations for this type of reflex? Why or why not? (2)

Answer 1

Whole body withdrawal reflex :

Accidentally stepping on a sharp tack

Part of the body stimulated is lower limb.

Response : flexion of the limb. And stepping backwards

Ipsilateral : flexor muscles: rectus femoris and sartorius

Action :  decrease the angle between bones on two sides of a joint, as in bending the elbow or knee.

Contralateral muscles during the withdrawal reflex are the muscles of extensor compartment:

Tibialis anterior , extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus

Action :  Collectively, they act to dorsiflex and invert the foot at the ankle joint.

Yes. The body respose fallow my expectations