Reflexes

Table of content
What is reflex?
What is reflex arc?
What are the components of reflex arc?
Some human body reflexes.
What is reflex?
Reflexes are automatic, unconscious to changes, either
inside or outside the body.
a. Reflexes maintain homeostasis (autonomic reflexes)
– heart rate, breathing rate, BP , digestion.
b. Reflexes also carry out the automatic actions of
swallowing, sneezing, coughing, vomiting.
c. Reflexes maintain balance and posture; e.g., spinal
reflexes control trunk and limb muscles.
What is reflex arc?
The reflex arc governs the operation of reflexes. Nerve impulses follow nerve
pathways as they travel through the nervous system. The simplest of these
pathways, which include only a few neurons, is called the reflex arc.
Reflexes whose arc passes through the spinal cord are called spinal reflexes.
Components of reflex arc.
1. Receptor – detects the stimulus. a) Description: the
receptor end of a particular dendrite or a specialized
receptor cell in a sensory organ. b) Function:
sensitive to a specific type of internal or external
change.
2. Sensory neuron – conveys the sensory info. to brain
or spinal cord. a. Description: Dendrite, cell body,
and axon of a sensory neuron. b. Function: transmit
nerve impulses from the receptor into the brain or
spinal cord.
Continue…
3. Interneuron: relay neurons. a. Description: dendrite,
cell body, and axon of a neuron within the brain or
spinal cord. b. Function: serves as processing center,
conducts nerve impulses from the sensory neuron to a
motor neuron.
4. Motor neuron: conduct motor output to the
periphery. a. Description: Dendrite, cell body, and
axon of a motor neuron. b. Function: transmits nerve
impulse from the brain or spinal cord out to an
effecter.
5. Effector: a. Description: a muscle or gland. b.
Function: Response to stimulation by the motor
neuron and produces the reflex or behavioral action.
Pupillary accommodation reflex
a reduction of pupil size in response to an object
coming close to the eye.
Pupillary light reflex
a reduction of pupil size in response to light.
Acoustic reflex
IT is an involuntary muscle contraction that occurs in
the middle ear of mammals in response to high-
intensity sound stimuli.
Babinski reflex
In infants up to one year of age, and also in older
individuals with neurological damage, a spreading of the
toes and extension of the big toe in response to stroking
the side of the foot.
Knee jerk
A kick caused by striking the patellar tendon with a
tendon hammer just below the patella, stimulating the
L4 and L3 reflex arcs
Ankle jerk reflex
Ankle jerk reflex, also known as the Achilles Reflex,
occurs when the Achilles tendon is tapped while the foot is
dorsi flexed. A positive result would be the jerking of the
foot towards its plantar surface. Being a deep tendon reflex.
Glabellar reflex
Is a primitive reflex. It is elicited by repetitive tapping on
the forehead. Subjects blink in response to the first several
taps.
Jaw jerk reflex
The mandible—or lower jaw—is tapped at a downward
angle just below the lips at the chin while the mouth is held
slightly open. In response, the masseter muscles will jerk
the mandible upwards.
Biceps reflex
A jerking of the forearm when the biceps brachii tendon is
struck with a tendon hammer, stimulating the C5 and C6
reflex arcs.
Brachioradialis reflex
A jerking of the forearm when the brachioradialis tendon is
hit with a tendon hammer while the arm is resting,
stimulating the C5 and C6 reflex arcs.
Triceps reflex
Jerking of the forearm when the triceps tendon is hit
with a tendon hammer, stimulating the C7 and C6
reflex arcs.
Crossed extensor reflex
a contraction of a limb in response to ipsilateral pain, and
extension of the contralateral limb.
Corneal reflex
blinking of both eyes when the cornea of either eye is
touched.
Golgi tendon reflex
In a Golgi tendon reflex, skeletal muscle contraction causes
the agonist muscle to simultaneously lengthen and relax
baroreceptor reflex
 homeostatic countereffect to a sudden elevation or
reduction in blood pressure detected by the baroreceptors
in the aortic arch.
Churchill cope reflex
The rapid shallow breathing resulting from
pulmonary congestion and edema.
Galant reflex
In infants up to four months of age, a rotation of the upper
body towards one or other side of the back when that side
is stroked.
Hering–Breuer reflex
is a reflex triggered to prevent over-inflation of the
lung
Palmar grasp reflex
In infants up to six months of age, a closing of the
hand in response to an object being placed in it.
Rooting reflex
turning of an infant's head toward anything that
strokes the cheek or mouth.
Shivering
shaking of the body in response to early hypothermia
in warm-blooded animals.
Stretch reflex
The stretch reflex (myotatic reflex) is a muscle
contraction in response to stretching within the muscle. It
is a monosynaptic reflex which provides automatic
regulation of skeletal muscle length.
Vagovagal reflex
Contraction of muscles in the gastrointestinal tract in
response to distension of the tract following
consumption of food and drink.
Vestibulo-ocular reflex
movement of the eyes to the right when the head is
rotated to the left, and vice versa.
Suckling reflex
sucking at anything that touches the roof of an
infant's mouth.
Sneeze
a convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs normally
triggered by irritation of the nasal mucosa in the nose.
Photic sneeze reflex
a sneeze caused by sudden exposure to bright light.
Cough reflex
A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs after sudden
opening of the glottis, and usually following irritation of
the trachea
Blushing
A reddening of the face caused by embarrassment,
shame, or modesty.
Yawn
A yawn is a reflex consisting of the simultaneous
inhalation of air and the stretching of the eardrums,
followed by an exhalation of breath. Pandiculation is the
act of yawning and stretching simultaneously.