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Reflex arc
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A reflex arc is a neural pathway that controls a reflex. In vertebrates, most sensory neurons do not
pass directly into the brain, but synapse in the spinal cord. This allows for faster reflex actions to occur
by activating spinal motor neurons without the delay of routing signals through the brain. The brain will
receive the input while the reflex is being carried out and the analysis of the signal takes place after
the reflex action.

There are two types: autonomic reflex arc (affecting inner

organs) and somatic reflex arc (affecting muscles). Autonomic
reflexes sometimes involve the spinal cord and some somatic
reflexes are mediated more by the brain than the spinal cord.[1]

During a somatic reflex, nerve signals travel along the following

pathway:[1]
In a reflex arc, an action potential can
bypass the brain for processing and
1. Somatic receptors in the skin, muscles and tendons
uses dedicated neural pathways for
faster processing. When a stimulus (A)
2. Afferent nerve fibers carry signals from the somatic receptors
is encountered, the signal from that
to the posterior horn of the spinal cord or to the brainstem stimulus will travel up the sensory
neuron (B, in green) to the spinal column
3. An integrating center, the point at which the neurons that (C). There it will likely pass through a
compose the gray matter of the spinal cord or brainstem short interneuron (D, in purple) before
synapse continuing down a motor neuron (E, in
blue) to the origin of the signal. Then, a
4. Efferent nerve fibers carry motor nerve signals from the anterior contraction of the muscles (F, in red) is
triggered, moving the bone (G).
horn to the muscles

5. Effector muscle innervated by the efferent nerve fiber carries out the response.

A reflex arc, then, is the pathway followed by nerves which (a.) carry sensory information from the
receptor to the spinal cord, and then (b.) carry the response generated by the spinal cord to effector
organs during a reflex action. The pathway taken by the nerve impulse to accomplish a reflex action is
called the reflex arc.

Contents

Monosynaptic vs. polysynaptic

The patellar reflex (aka "knee jerk")

See also

References

External links

Monosynaptic vs. polysynaptic

When a reflex arc in an animal consists of only one

sensory neuron and one motor neuron, it is defined as
monosynaptic, referring to the presence of a single
chemical synapse. In the case of peripheral muscle
reflexes (patellar reflex, achilles reflex), brief stimulation
to the muscle spindle results in contraction of the
agonist or effector muscle. By contrast, in polysynaptic
reflex pathways, one or more interneurons connect
afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) signals. All but
the most simple reflexes are polysynaptic, allowing Reflex arc demonstrated
processing or inhibition of polysynaptic reflexes within
the brain. [clarification needed]

The patellar reflex (aka "knee jerk")

Main article: Patellar reflex

When the patellar tendon is tapped just below the knee, the tap
initiates an action potential in a specialized structure known as a
muscle spindle located within the quadriceps. This action
potential travels to the L3 and L4 nerve roots of the spinal
cord,[2] via a sensory axon which chemically communicates by
releasing glutamate onto a motor nerve. The result of this motor
nerve activity is contraction of the quadriceps muscle, leading to
extension of the lower leg at the knee (i.e. the lower leg kicks
forward). Ultimately, an improper patellar reflex may indicate an (A) Microscopic hairs etched along the
injury of the central nervous system.[2] tail of the decapod activate a somatic
signal (2) in response to the presence of
The sensory input from the quadriceps also activates local an environmental stimulus (1). (B) The
action potential activated by the somatic
interneurons that release the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine
interneuron (3) relays an impulse to the
onto motor neurons of antagonist muscles, blocking their lateral giant (LG) interneuron (4). (C)
stimulation (in this case the hamstring muscles). The relaxation The lateral giant interneuron executes a
of the opposing muscle facilitates (by not opposing) the reflex by relaying impulses to various
giant motor neurons (5) within the
extension of the lower leg. abdomen of the lobster. These muscular
contractions result in the decapod being
In invertebrates reflex interneurons do not necessarily reside in capable of successfully propelling itself
the spinal cord, for example as in the lateral giant neuron of through the water, away from the site of
stimulus.
crayfish.

See also

Lazarus sign

References

1. ^ a b Saladin, Kenneth (2015). Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. New York: McGraw-Hill.
pp. 496–497. ISBN 978-0073403717.

2. ^ a b "Deep Tendon Reflexes" . The Precise Neurological Exam. New York University School of Medicine.
November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.

External links

Ole Kæseler Andersen (1996). Physiological and Pharmacological modulation of the human nociceptive
withdrawal reflex (PDF) (PhD Thesis). Center for Sansory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University.

Tutorial at wisc-online.com

Last edited on 19 January 2024, at 12:01

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