Body and Breath

Each month a new series questions will be posted on the Questions & Answers page along with the answers and explanations.

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Qustions & Answers, November, 2003, with page references for Anatomy of Hatha Yoga:

What is the anatomical/physiological definition of a reflex? (36)

Name the four elements that make up a reflex. (38)

How do you perform the commonest test of the myotatic stretch reflex? (38)

What are the receptors for the myotatic stretch reflex? (38)

In Figure 1.7, locate the muscle spindle, the sensory neuron, the site where the sensory neuron’s axon terminal contacts the motor neuron cell body, and the site where the motor neuron terminates on the muscle cell. (39)

How does it happen that you sense the myotatic reflex in your conscious mind after the reflex action is complete? (40)

List several sports activities in which the myotatic stretch reflex is important (40)

How does it happen that myotatic stretch reflexes can diminish flexibility? (40)

Name some examples in hatha yoga in which myotatic stretch reflexes are activated. (40)