Spinal Reflexes – Myotactic (Stretch) Reflexes – Extensor Toe Reflex
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Myotactic (Stretch) Reflexes

Extensor Toe Reflex

• Anatomy and Physiology
This reflex is similar to the Babinski reflex seen in humans. But the two are not entirely the same as the Babinski reflex evaluates the fanning of the large toe and animals do not have this.
• Assessment
The pelvic limb is held proximal to the hock with the hock and digits flexed. The limb is stroked on the caudolateral surface all the way from the hock to the digits. A normal response is no response at all. An abnormal response is extension and fanning of the digits.
This test is not often used because the normal is an absence of movement. Since the test is difficult to perform it is possible to obtain false results.