Support response
The support response (Engl. Extensor Postural Thrust Reaction ) is a neurological test in veterinary medicine which can be used in small and medium-sized animals. It belongs to the so-called posture and position reactions .
execution
In the support reaction, the animal is grasped by the chest behind the shoulder blades , lifted up so far that the limbs no longer touch the ground, and then carefully put back down. This results in a strong stretching ( hyperextension ) of the hind limbs. The animal is then gently pushed backwards, whereupon a neurologically healthy animal tries to bring the hind limbs under the center of gravity by alternately flexing and stretching the hind limbs.
Diagnostic value
The support reaction is primarily used to test the intactness of the sense of balance . In addition to the function of the cerebellum , the ascending pathways from the spinal cord into the cerebellum (cerebellar lateral cord pathway, posterior cord pathway) and its descending pathways are necessary for the correct reaction .
If the cerebellum is damaged, there is no hyperextension and the movements when returning are uncoordinated because these movement patterns are generated in the cerebellum. If the supportive reaction is difficult to trigger, there are probably disorders of proprioception , i.e. in the ascending pathways. If the motor response is disturbed, the descending pathways in the spinal cord are probably damaged. Incorrect movements that miss the target ( dysmetria ) can occur in lesions of the cerebellum, the connections between the organ of equilibrium and the cerebellum ( vestibulocerebellar tract ) or the lateral cords of the cerebellum.
literature
- André Jaggy: Atlas and textbook of small animal neurology . Schlütersche, Hannover 2005, ISBN 3-87706-739-5 .
- Marc Vandevelde among others: Veterinary neurology. A guide for study and practice. 2nd revised and expanded edition. Paul Parey Verlag, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-8263-3224-5 .
