EXAMINATION OF SOME SPINAL NERVES 147 
the limbs. The transection of the cord had, in most of the cases on whicli the summary is based, 
been made from a few days up to six months prior to the observation. 
Internal saphenous nerve in highest third of thigh (Monkey) evoked flexion of hip; flexion of 
knee. 
Internal saphenous nerve just above knee (Monkey : cord cut at Vlth thoracic level five months 
previously) evoked flexion of hip, adduction of thigh, slight flexion of knee, movement of tail to the 
homonymous side. 
Internal saphenous nerve at knee (Dog), flexion of hip, with some feeble flexion of knee (Cat); 
flexion of hip, especially due to fascialis and upper part of sartorius of quadriceps, with some flexion of 
knee, and usually some dorso-flexion at ankle. 
Internal saphenous nerve at the ankle (Monkey), flexion of hip, with slight flexion at knee. 
External saphenous nerve near ankle evoked flexion of knee, flexion of hallux and toes, depression 
of tail, sometimes abduction of tail. 
The most lateral digital branch from the musculo-cutaneous on the dorsum of the foot evoked 
flexion of hip, slight action of hamstring muscles, slight dorsal flexion of ankle. 
Internal plantar at heel (Monkey) evoked dorso-flexion of ankle, flexion of hallux (less easily 
flexion of short digits as well), flexion of knee, slight flexion of hip. 
Internal plantar at heel (Cat), dorso-flexion of ankle and flexion of knee. 
External plantar at heel (Monkey) evoked dorso-flexion of ankle, flexion of hallux and digits, 
flexion of knee, and some flexion of hip; (Cat) dorso-flexion of ankle, with slighter flexion of knee. 
Cutaneous branch of musculo-cutaneous at annular ligament ; dorso-flexion of ankle, with some 
inversion of foot; slight flexion at hip and knee. 
Hamstring nerve evokes flexion at knee and hip, with generally crossed extension of knee and 
ankle, including contraction of extensors of knee and relaxation (inhibition) of the hamstring muscles. 
Nerve to outer head of gastrocnemius (Cat) evokes usually contraction in the dorsal flexors of 
ankle, less usually contraction in gastrocnemius itself, and very usually contraction in the flexors of the 
knee. 
Peroneal nerve at knee (Monkey) evokes flexion of knee and hip, dorsal flexion of ankle, and 
flexion of digits; abduction of tail. 
Peroneal nerve at knee (Cat), flexion of knee, hip, and dorso-flexion of ankle. 
Popliteal nerve at knee (Monkey) evokes flexion of knee ; tail abduction ; adduction of both thighs. 
Popliteal nerve at knee (Cat), flexion of hip and knee, generally extension of opposite knee. 
Dorsal branch of ulnar on liand evokes flexion of digits, extension of wrist, pronation (slight) of 
forearm, flexion of elbow, some retraction at shoulder, and extension of opposite elbow. 
To these may be added the list of root reflexes, pp. 124-127, above. 
It is very obvious from the above that in these spinal reflexes of the limb certain limb 
movements are of very preponderant occurrence ; in other words, certain functional groups of 
motor neurons are less easily excited than others by the incoming local impulses. Sanders-Ezn,* 
ScHLOEssER,t and LombardJ. have pointed out how difficult it is to evoke extension of the knee 
as a spinal reflex movement. In a previous paper I noted that in the Monkey the representations 
of movement in the cord, as tested by excitation of the ventral spinal root, and of the dorsal 
(afferent) root, do not coincide ; in fact, by no means coincide. Sanders-Ezn,§ Lombard,|| and 
myselfH have pointed out that the movement elicited by excitation of the afferent root is often 
widely different, or even the converse, of that evoked by excitation of the efferent root corres- 
* Loc. at. II 'Archiv f. Physiol.,' 1885. 
t 'Archiv f. Physiol.,' 1880. ^ 'Journ. of Physiol.,' vol. 13, p. 621, 1892 ; (recently 
X Loc.cit. P. May, 'Phil. Tr,nns.,' B, 1896, C.S., 1897). 
§ Ludwig's 'Arbeiten,' 1867. 
