Human intersegmental reflexes from intercostal afferents to scalene muscles
What is the central question of this study? The aim was to determine whether specific reflex connections operate between intercostal afferents and the scalene muscles in humans, and whether these connections operate after a clinically complete cervical spinal cord injury. What is the main finding and its importance? This is the first description of a short latency inhibitory reflex connection between intercostal afferents from intercostal spaces to the scalene muscles in able bodied participants. We suggest that this reflex is mediated by large diameter afferents. This intercostal to scalene inhibitory reflex is absent after cervical spinal cord injury and may provide a way to monitor the progress of the injury.
Experimental physiology