Question: In the entire medical world, is there anything more satisfying than walking up to a patient and successfully hitting all 5 major tendon reflexes on the first try?
In my head, I blew the smoke off my reflex hammer and twirled it into my lab coat.
In real life, however, I was then supposed to answer questions that showed I knew Actual Facts about reflex arcs – and since a reflex arc is not a lung, that didn’t go so well. (“Reflex Arc? Ah. Well.. there’s a Golgi Tendon Organ there, that’s the thing.” <– my helpful response, courtesy of a $25,000 Neurobiology degree. Excuse me while I sob.)
So I doubt that my anatomy skills will qualify me for neurology – but I might be able to hack it if they invent a subspecialty that involves nothing but reflex testing. THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME THING.
Action Potential 
At this point in my career do you honestly think I remember how the reflex arc works? Hell no. I only care if you have them, or not, or if they’re asymmetric.
It’s like driving a car. I only car if it works. I don’t remember how it works anymore.
Hmmm… okay, neurology might be back under consideration. Reflexes are seriously the coolest things ever.
What Grumpy said. I was like, “Golgi what??” I don’t even remember having to know that for step 1.
Point being, I don’t think you can rule neurology out on that basis at all. In fact, your reflex testing acumen + your love of psychiatry indicates to me that it might just be the perfect fit.
🙂
Thanks. I think I’m going to shadow a neurologist next week – we’ll see how it goes!
You’ll see when you get on rotation that your job consists less of “how does this complicated mechanistic pathway work” and more “get me the information I need to make the diagnosis”
Also, if you didn’t try the hamstring reflex, then it doesn’t count 😛
^ NEW GOAL IN LIFE: Hamstring reflex. First try.