Abstract
Monopolar electrical stimulation of the femoral nerve, just below the inguinal ligament, elicited two successive responses in the quadriceps, which were recorded with surface electrodes over the rectus femoris muscle. The characteristics of the second response, with longer latency, have been studied in 18 healthy subjects. This response has a biphasic shape, a threshold lower than that of the direct motor response, and a mean latency of 14.6±0.95 msec. The recruitment curve, the double shock excitability curve, the facilitatory and inhibitory effects of peripheral stimulation, are identical to those of the Hoffmann reflex evoked in the soleus muscle. It may be concluded that the longer latency response of the rectus femoris is a monosynaptic reflex response. Passive lengthening of the quadriceps produces an early and significant decrease in amplitude of spindle secondary endings or 1b fibers. The H reflex of the rectus femoris may also be used as a functional test to follow the course of proximal polyneuritis and to explore L4 lumbar root injuries.
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