Reciprocal inhibition is AKA Sherrington's law. Which term best describes this phenomenon?

• A. Post contraction inhibition
• B. Irradiation
• C. Sherrington's law
• D. Autogenic inhibition

Answer: (C)

Reciprocal inhibition coordinates movement by ensuring the antagonist muscle is inhibited when its agonist contracts. This reflex, described by Sherrington as reciprocal innervation, is captured by the term Sherrington's law. In other words, the best description of this phenomenon is Sherrington's law because it names the mechanism of inhibiting the opposing muscle to allow smooth, purposeful movement. The other terms refer to different concepts (autogenic inhibition is inhibition of the same muscle via the Golgi tendon organ; irradiation is spread of reflex effects; the post contraction inhibition term isn’t the standard descriptor for this process).