Marie-Foix Reflexes

MARIE-FOIX REFLEXES (Marie, Foix), shortening and lengthening reflexes, belong to the category of spinal automatism reflexes and are revealed in cases of hemiplegia and paraplegia upon damage to the pyramidal pathways. The shortening reflex consists of the synergy of triple flexion (triple retrait) in the ankle, knee, and hip joints and can be caused by superficial and deep irritations, especially by easily irritating nociceptive (harmful) stimuli; one of the best methods for its elicitation is intense passive plantar flexion of the fingers or foot (a method proposed by Monakov, then by Marie and Foix). - The lengthening reflex, rarer, consists of the synergy of extension of the lower limb in the ankle, knee, and hip joints upon weak irritations, for example stroking the inguinal fold, abdomen, and other proximal zones, as well as simultaneously with the shortening phenomenon on the other side. Physiological experiments (especially Sherrington's) allow us to consider the lengthening and shortening reflexes as spinal components of the act of walking, although in some cases they may also have a protective character (Babinski's protective reflexes). - Marie-Foix reflexes, appearing very early in cases of hemiplegia after stroke, are elicited initially not only on the affected side but also on the healthy side, although to a lesser degree. In systemic damage to the pyramidal pathways (for example, lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, Erba-type paraplegia), the shortening reflex is very moderate, but in cases of compressive paraplegia it is sharply expressed, increasing with anesthesia and playing a role in the occurrence of so-called spontaneous convulsions. In cases of very pronounced extension contractures, where no other flexion movements in the lower limbs are possible, it is possible to eliminate the extension contracture and "elicit the shortening reflex by the Marie-Foix method." In cases of more or less complete transverse rupture of the spinal cord, the shortening reflex, being sharply expressed in the stage of increased reflex excitability, continues to increase even in the stage of weakening of tendon reflexes in severe cases with a progressive course, and finally in complete transverse damage to the spinal cord becomes very moderate, remaining in one flexion phase, whereas in incomplete transverse damage it is biphasic, i.e., after shortening a phase of lengthening follows. N. Propper, L. Fidelgolts. MARX AND SOCIAL HYGIENE, see Social Hygiene.