reflex

Examples of reflex in the following topics:

• Reflexes and Diagnosis

  • A reflex action, also known as a reflex, is an involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus.
  • Scientific use of the term "reflex" refers to a behavior that is mediated via the reflex arc; this does not apply to casual uses of the term "reflex".
  • Generally, decreased reflexes indicate a peripheral problem, and lively or exaggerated reflexes a central one.
  • While the reflexes above are stimulated mechanically, the term H-reflex refers to the analogous reflex stimulated electrically, and Tonic vibration reflex for those stimulated to vibration.
  • While 2+ is considered normal, some healthy individuals are hypo-reflexive and register all reflexes at 1+, while others are hyper-reflexive and register all reflexes at 3+.

• Gastrointestinal Reflex Pathways

  • The digestive system functions via a system of long reflexes, short reflexes, and extrinsic reflexes from gastrointestinal (GI) peptides working together.
  • In addition, there are three overarching reflexes that control the movement, digestion, and defecation of food and food waste: the enterogastric reflex, the gastrocolic reflex, and the gastroileal reflex.
  • When this occurs, it is called a short reflex.
  • The gastrocolic reflex is the physiological reflex controlling the motility, or peristalsis, of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • The gastroileal reflex is a third type of gastrointestinal reflex.

• Components of a Reflex Arc

  • A reflex arc defines the pathway by which a reflex travels—from the stimulus to sensory neuron to motor neuron to reflex muscle movement.
  • The path taken by the nerve impulses in a reflex is called a reflex arc.
  • There are two types of reflex arcs:the  autonomic reflex arc, affecting inner organs, and the somatic reflex arc, affecting muscles.
  • For example, the withdrawal reflex (nociceptive or flexor withdrawal reflex) is a spinal reflex intended to protect the body from damaging stimuli.
  • The path taken by the nerve impulses in a reflex is called a reflex arc.

• Spinal Reflexes

  • Spinal reflexes include the stretch reflex, the Golgi tendon reflex, the crossed extensor reflex, and the withdrawal reflex.
  • Spinal reflexes include the stretch reflex, the Golgi tendon reflex, the crossed extensor reflex, and the withdrawal reflex.
  • This reflex has the shortest latency of all spinal reflexes.
  • Like the stretch reflex, the tendon reflex is ipsilateral.
  • The crossed extensor reflex is a withdrawal reflex.

• Autonomic Reflexes

  • Autonomic reflexes are unconscious motor reflexes relayed from the organs and glands to the CNS through visceral afferent signaling.
  • An example of referred pain from an autonomic reflex arc occurs when the bowel is suddenly distended.
  • The medulla's major ANS functions include respiration (the respiratory control center, or RCC), cardiac regulation (the cardiac control center, or CCC), vasomotor activity (the vasomotor center or VMC), and certain reflex actions (such as coughing, sneezing, vomiting and swallowing).
  • General visceral afferent sensations are mostly unconscious, visceral motor reflex sensations from hollow organs and glands that are transmitted to the CNS (see the following illustration for a depiction of a typical nerve fiber, including general visceral afferent fibers).
  • While the unconscious reflex arcs are normally undetectable, in certain instances they may send pain sensations to the CNS, masked as referred pain.

• Proprioceptive Sensations

  • An unconscious reaction is seen in the human proprioceptive reflex, or Law of Righting.
  • It provides the sensory component of the Golgi tendon reflex.
  • The Golgi tendon reflex is a normal component of the reflex arc of the peripheral nervous system.
  • In a Golgi tendon reflex, skeletal muscle contraction causes the agonist muscle to simultaneously lengthen and relax.
  • This reflex is also called the inverse myotatic reflex, because it is the inverse of the stretch reflex.

• Optic (II) Nerve

  • Most of the axons of the optic nerve terminate in the lateral geniculate nucleus (where information is relayed to the visual cortex), while other axons terminate in the pretectal nucleus and are involved in reflexive eye movements.
  • It also conducts the visual impulses that are responsible for two important neurological reflexes: the light reflex and the accommodation reflex.
  • The light reflex refers to the constriction of both pupils that occurs when light is shone into either eye; the accommodation reflex refers to the swelling of the lens of the eye that occurs when one looks at a near object, as in reading.

• Micturition and the Micturition Reflex

  • In infants, elderly individuals, and those with neurological injury, urination may occur as an involuntary reflex.
  • The state of the micturition reflex system is dependent on both a conscious signal from the brain and the firing rate of sensory stretch fibers from the bladder and urethra.
  • The micturition reflex causes bladder contraction during voiding, through a neural pathway.
  • This reflex may lead to involuntary micturition in individuals that may not be able to feel the sensation of urinary urge, due to the firing of the stretch receptors themselves.

• Proprioceptor Regulation of Breathing

  • The Hering–Breuer reflex (also called the inflation reflex) is triggered to prevent over-inflation of the lungs.
  • This is called the inflation reflex.
  • Early physiologists believed this reflex played a major role in establishing the rate and depth of breathing in humans.
  • However, the reflex may determine the breathing rate and depth in newborns and in adult humans when tidal volume is more than 1 L, such as when exercising.
  • The sensitivity of the sinus-atrial node to the inflation reflex is lost over time, so sinus arryhthmias are less common in older people.

• Defecation Reflex