title: Deep tendon reflex: The background story of a simple technique.
abstract: Wilhelm Erb and Carl Otto Westphal from Prussia first described the knee jerk in the same issue of the journal Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten in January 1875. This article retraces the history of development of 'deep tendon reflex' as an integral clinical sign during every neurological examination. The history of the evolving shapes of the reflex hammer, the iconic trademark and the ultimate signature of a neuroscientist, is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Kalyan B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
mesh_terms: D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D009462:Neurology / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D012026:Reflex, Stretch