THE POSTURE & RIGHTING REFLEXES

(Guyton Ed. 13th: pg. 704-705)

Dr. Ayisha Qureshi

Professor
MBBS, MPhil
Posture is defined as the position adopted by
the individual within his environment, while
sitting or standing.
 What are Postural Reflexes?

Postural Reflexes are responses by which the

posture of the animal is maintained and righting of
his body occurs when the positions of different body
parts are changed.
The postural reflexes allow subconscious control
of posture, balance and coordination.

E.g: A good example of Postural reflexes are Righting

Reflexes which bring the body back to normal
position in space and resist forces acting to displace
it out of normal position.
 POSTURAL REFLEX ARC

AFFERENT LIMB INTEGRATING

(Eyes, Vestibular CENTER EFFERENT LIMB
Apparatus, (Brainstem & Spinal (Alpha-motor neurons of
Proprioceptors) Cord) various effector organs)
MECHANISM OF STANDING IN
MAN
 What are the different reflexes that
are activated during standing position?
Or
How is the standing posture
maintained?
 The muscle stretch reflex is the basis of
all muscle tone upon which all postures
including the erect posture depends
(standing position).

When you stand, the center of gravity is acting

in such a way that the body falls forward. The
following muscles are under the influence of
gravity and show enhanced tone:
- Muscles producing the retraction of the
neck.
- Masseters causing the elevation of the
jaw.
- Extensors of the knees and ankles.
If tone in these muscles decreases, the person
cannot remain standing and falls.

The vestibular receptors, the proprioceptors,

the visual receptors all play an important role
in maintaining posture.
VARIOUS POSTURAL REFLEXES
1. Stretch Reflex

(Already covered)
 2. Positive Support
Reflex or Reaction
It is a reflex in which there is
simultaneous contraction of both
extensors and flexors of the legs, as
the pads of the feet come in contact
with a hard surface.
It stabilizes the ankle joint and stiffens
the limb sufficiently to support the
weight of the body.
The locus of the pressure on the pad
of the foot determines the direction in
which the limb will extend; pressure
on one side causes extension in that
direction, an effect called the magnet
reaction. This helps keep an animal
from falling to that side.
3. Tonic Neck Reflexes
4. Crossed Extensor Reflex

(Already covered)
 5. CORD RIGHTING REFLEXES

When an animal is laid on its side, it will make uncoordinated

movements trying to raise itself to the standing position.
 5.a. Labyrinthine
Righting Reflex
When the position of the
head is altered in space, the
head is brought back to its
normal position relative to
the center of gravity.
The receptors lie in the
Otolith Organs and the
stimulus is the force of gravity.
5.b. Neck Righting Reflex
5.c. Body on head righting reflex
5.d. Body on Body
Righting Reflexes

We are able to right our

body into the upright
position, no matter which
position we started from.
 STEPPING & WALKING
MOVEMENTS
The oscillation back and forth
between flexor and extensor muscles,
seen in stepping and walking, can
occur even after the sensory nerves
have been cut.
↓
It seems to result mainly from
mutually reciprocal inhibition circuits
within the cord itself. These are called
the Loco motor Generator Circuits.
STUMBLE REFLEX:
If you stumble across an obstruction,
the forward step stops temporarily
and then the foot is lifted higher and
proceeds forward to be placed over
the obstruction. Thus, the cord is an
intelligent walking controller.
MARK TIME REFLEX: is a walking
pattern seen in a 4 limb animal &
involves diagonal stepping of all 4
limbs occurring in the spinal cord.
 SCRATCH REFLEX
is initiated by an itch or tickle
sensation.
Involves:
a. A position sense that allows the scratching limb to
find the exact point of irritation on the body.
b. A to-and-fro scratching movement.
Spinal cord reflexes that cause Muscle Spasm

1. Muscle Spasm resulting from a broken bone.

2. Abdominal muscle spasm in persons with
peritonitis.
3. Muscle cramps