STUDIES ON THE KNEE JERK

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Abstract
Of 17 dogs used, 15 produced useful records. The intracranial pressure was raised a total of 132 times, the intraspinal pressure 31 times, on these animals. Increasing the intracranial pressure to a point where it approaches the carotid arterial blood pressure leads to a fairly abrupt diminution in the height or abolition of the knee jerk preceded in some instances by a few jerks of increased amplitude. If the cord has been cut above the knee jerk center, the knee jerk is not affected until the respiratory and vasomotor centers have been paralyzed. The abolition of the knee jerk then seen is due to asphyxia of the center, and perhaps also to inadequate circulation through the center. Increase in the intraspinal pressure following transection of the cord above the knee jerk center, results in a temporary but marked increase in the amplitude of the knee jerk, followed by a complete abolition of the reflex. These results are attributed to cessation of the blood flow through the cord (asphyxia), for ligation of the abdominal aorta in the upper lumbar region gives similar results.

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