REMARKS ON THE REFLEX MECHANISM OF THE STEP

Abstract

To an observer who would analyse them, the acts of walking,, running, and of progression in its various forms present,theniselv-es m every case as actions compounded of a posture and a movement. In such acts we see particularly clearly exemplified a twofold activity of the nervous system. An activity which uses the musculature to main-. tain static effects -postures, and an activity which uses it to produce kinetic effects-movements. Thus, the static component in walking is maintenance of the erect posture; the kinetic component is a rhythmic alternating movement of the limbs-stepping. This static component is closely related to that which constitutes* standing, so closely, in fact, that such acts as walking and running may for analysis be conveniently regarded as the postural act of standing upon which there are grafted rhythmic flexion-extension nioWftsents of each limb in turn, resulting in locomotion.