supporting reactions

sup·port·ing re·ac·tions

, positive supporting reactionsnegative supporting reactionsdescribed by Magnus, who distinguished two types: positive supporting reactions, consisting of those reflex muscular contractions whereby the body is supported against gravity; seen in an exaggerated form in the decerebrate animal; negative supporting reactions, consisting of inhibition of the extensor muscles and unfixing of the joints that thus enable the limb to be flexed and moved into a new position. Synonym(s): supporting reflexes