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What is the superficial abdominal reflex?
The superficial abdominal reflex is elicited by pricking the skin of the abdomen and watching for contraction of the abdominal wall muscles.
This reflex is often diminished or absent below the level of a spinal cord lesion. In individuals with excessive adipose tissue in the abdominal region, this reflex may be difficult to observe.
Sources
- Goldblatt D, Levy J: The electric sign and the incandescent lamp. Semin Neurol 5:191-193, 1985.
- Truini A, Barbanti P, Pozzilli C, Cruccu G: A mechanism-based classification of pain in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol 260:351-367, 2013.
