Definition of Knee jerk

1. Noun. A reflex extension of the leg resulting from a sharp tap on the patellar tendon.


Definition of Knee jerk

1. Adjective. (alternative spelling of knee-jerk) ¹

2. Noun. (alternative spelling of knee-jerk) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Knee jerk

1. 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)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Knee Jerk

knee-slapper
knee-slappers
knee-slapping
knee-tremblers
knee arthroplasty
knee baby
knee bend
knee brace
knee breeches
knee bursitis
knee cap
knee cap dislocation
knee injuries
knee jerk
knee jerks
knee joint
knee pad
knee pads
knee pants
knee phenomenon
knee piece
knee prosthesis
knee reflex
knee roll
knee rolls
knee scooter
knee scooters
knee slapper

Literary usage of Knee jerk

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1896)
"Absence of the knee- jerk in cases of insanity in which alcoholism, ... Increased knee-jerk is only of bad prognosis when combined with advanced idiocy, ..."

2. Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology: Including Many of the Principal by James Mark Baldwin (1901)
"Bd. (1889) ; On the Nature of the Knee-jerk, J. of Physiol., ... 122-48 (1889); MABIE, Le Bulletin Médical, Paris, Apr. 15, 1894 ('Crossed Knee-jerk'); ..."

3. The American Journal of Psychology by Granville Stanley Hall, Edward Bradford Titchener (1892)
"In the more precise investigations of the physiological conditions modifying the knee-jerk all investigators have found that the mental condition of the ..."

4. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by American Neurological Association, Philadelphia Neurological Society, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association, Boston Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (1906)
"It was impossible to obtain the knee jerk in any way, even by reinforcement, and yet there was on one side a distinct Babinski reflex and Oppenheim reflex. ..."

5. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by Philadelphia Neurological Society, American Neurological Association, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association (1906)
"In the remaining two cases there was increase of knee-jerk on ... knee jerk moderate left, absent right. Achilles active left, moderate right. Case 2. ..."

6. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London by Royal Society (Great Britain) (1893)
"He also noted that section of the 6th roots in rabbits did not always abolish the knee jerk, bnt occasionally section of the 5th root alone sufficed to ..."

7. The Journal of Physiology by Physiological Society (Great Britain). (1889)
"ON THE NATURE OF THE KNEE-JERK. Br WARREN • PLIMPTON LOMBARD, MD, Assistant in Physiology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. ..."

8. Monographic Medicine by William Robie Patten Emerson, Guido Guerrini, William Brown, Wendell Christopher Phillips, John Whitridge Williams, John Appleton Swett, Hans Günther, Mario Mariotti, Hugh Grant Rowell (1916)
"Before one decides that the knee-jerk is absent, repeated tests should be ... When the knee-jerk is much exaggerated, a slight tap may cause a marked kick ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Knee jerk on Dictionary.com!Search for Knee jerk on Thesaurus.com!Search for Knee jerk on Google!Search for Knee jerk on Wikipedia!

Search