What occurs when the neck is flexed during Brudzinski's Test?

Brudzinski's Test is a clinical maneuver used to assess for meningitis. When the neck is flexed during this test, a positive response is indicated by the involuntary flexing of the hips and knees. This reaction occurs as a protective response to irritation of the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

The presence of any discomfort or reflexive movement in the extremities when the neck is flexed suggests meningeal irritation, which is commonly associated with conditions like meningitis. Therefore, the flexing of the hips and knees serves as a significant clinical sign in the evaluation of potential central nervous system infections.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the physiological response associated with Brudzinski's Test. For instance, increased blood flow to the brain, vasodilation in extremities, and loss of consciousness are not the direct outcomes of the maneuver and do not convey the specific neurological implications related to meningeal irritation that the test aims to identify.