B1A 1.

2
Reflex actions



Learning objectives:
1. What is a reflex?
2. Why are reflex so important?
When we touch something hot, or sharp, we pull our hand back before we
feel the pain. If something comes near our face, we blink. Automatic
responses like these are known as reflexes.
What are reflexes for?
Reflex is very important for human beings and for other animals. They help
us to avoid danger or harm because they happen so fast. There are also lots
of reflexes which take care of our basic body functions. These functions
include breathing and moving the food through your gut.
How do reflexes work?
Reflex actions include just three types of neurone, they are:
Sensory neurones
Motor neurones
Relay neurones which simply connected a sensory neurone and a
motor neurone. We find relay neurones in the CNS, often in the spinal
cord.
An electric impulse passes from the sensory receptor along the sensory
neurone to the CNS. It then passes along a relay neurone usually in the spinal
cord and straight back along a motor neurone. From there the impulse
arrives at the effector organ usually a muscle in a reflex. We call this a reflex
arc.
How synapses work?
Our nerves are not joined up directly to each
other. There are junctions between them
called synapses. The electrical impulses
travelling along our neurones have to cross
these synapses but they cannot leap the gap.




The reflex arc in detail
















When we touch it, a receptor in their skin is stimulated. An electrical message passes
along a sensory neurone to the central nervous system in this case the spinal cord.
When an impulse from the sensory neurone arrives in the synapse with a relay neurone, a
chemical message is released. This crosses the synapse to the relay neurone and sets off
an electrical impulse that travels along the relay neurone.
When the impulse reaches the synapse between the relay neurone and a motor neurone
returning to the arm, another chemical message is released.
This crosses the synapses and starts an electrical impulse travelling down the motor
neurone. When the impulse reaches the organ (effector), it is stimulated to respond. In
this example the impulses arrive in the muscles of the arm, causing them to contract and
move the hand rapidly away from the source of pain.
Most reflex actions can show as:
Stimulus receptor- co-ordinator- effector- response


Key Point
1. Some responses to stimuli are automatic
and rapid and are called reflex actions.
2. Reflex actions run every day bodily
function and help you to avoid danger.