MAMMALIAN PLANTAR REFLEXES IN TERMS OF AFFERENT FIBERS

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Abstract
Faradic stimulation of low threshold cutaneous fibers in the medial plantar nerve or the superficial branch of the lateral plantar of the reflex dog gives rise to an ipsilateral extensor reflex pattern which is apparently postural in nature. The large main division of the lateral plantar nerve is almost devoid of fibers which evoke this type of response. The flexion reflex of limb withdrawal could be evoked by the application of sufficiently intense stimuli to any of the plantar nerve branches, but most readily and in greatest purity from the lateral plantar. Responses were essentially alike whether the animals were decerebrate, spinal, or nembutalized. The voltage threshold of the flexor reflex afferent fibers was about 125% of that of the extensor fibers. Measurements with the cathode ray oscillograph show that the most rapidly conducting extensor cutaneous afferent fibers conduct at about 60 to 70 m.p.s. as compared to 40 to 50 for the most rapidly conducting flexor fibers.

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