Answer:
The correct answer is c. contract; relax.
In the patellar tendon reflex arc, the patellar ligament is stretched, which stretches the quadriceps femoris muscle of the thigh. This reflex will cause the quadriceps femoris to contract and the hamstrings to relax.
Explanation:
The patellar reflex is the involuntary contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscles by flexion of the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is located in the knee joint and connects the patella and the quadriceps tendon with the tibia. Tendons are structures of fibrous junction tissue that originate in the muscle and are inserted into the bone, they are the means of attachment between them. For this reflex of myothetic or stretching type to occur, it is essential to have the leg flexed and relaxed, that is, the hamstring is relaxed, which allows the extension of the leg (reciprocal inhibition).
