Instrument with a rubber head used for testing reflexes?

Instrument with a rubber head used for testing reflexes?

• A. Percussion hammer
• B. Eye occluder
• C. Otoscope
• D. Ophthalmoscope

Answer: (A)

Testing reflexes requires delivering a quick, controlled tap to a tendon, and the instrument built for that is a reflex hammer with a rubber head. The rubber head provides a gentle, cushioned strike that reliably activates the stretch reflex without causing harm, allowing a clinician to observe responses like the knee-jerk. Other listed tools serve different purposes: an eye occluder blocks vision during eye tests, an otoscope examines the ear, and an ophthalmoscope looks inside the eye. None of these are used to test reflexes, so the rubber-headed hammer is the correct choice.

Testing reflexes requires delivering a quick, controlled tap to a tendon, and the instrument built for that is a reflex hammer with a rubber head. The rubber head provides a gentle, cushioned strike that reliably activates the stretch reflex without causing harm, allowing a clinician to observe responses like the knee-jerk. Other listed tools serve different purposes: an eye occluder blocks vision during eye tests, an otoscope examines the ear, and an ophthalmoscope looks inside the eye. None of these are used to test reflexes, so the rubber-headed hammer is the correct choice.