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Absent reflexes

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

An absent or decreased tendon reflex is indicative of a breach in any part of the reflex motor arc. It may involve:

  • the muscle - myopathy
  • the nerve endings - polyneuritis
  • the motor nerve - neuropathy
  • the anterior spinal cord root, e.g. spondylosis
  • the anterior horn cell, e.g. motor neurone disease, poliomyelitis
  • the sensory arc sensory root or sensory nerve disease
  • systemic disease, e.g. abetalipoproteinaemia

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