title: Neither a general flexor nor a withdrawal pattern of nociceptive reflexes evoked from the human foot.
abstract: In humans motor reactions to noxious radiant heat stimulation of the sole and the dorsum of the foot do not resemble a locally specific pattern of multiple modular withdrawal reflexes but rather a general flexion reflex pattern with a few exceptions which did neither fit a withdrawal nor a flexion reflex pattern. The partly observed excitatory feed back to foot extensors from nociceptive afferents of the foot sole is functionally discussed as a foot stabilizing mechanism under particular conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, University of Erlangen, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellrich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steffens
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Schomburg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors