Reflex arc
Reflex Arc
A Reflex arc is a neural pathway that controls a reflex. In vertebrates, most reflex actions are controlled via this pathway. The reflex arc allows an immediate and automatic response to a stimulus, which is essential for survival. The reflex arc comprises five components: the sensory receptor, the sensory neuron, the interneuron, the motor neuron, and the effector.
Components of a Reflex Arc[edit | edit source]
Sensory Receptor[edit | edit source]
The sensory receptor detects changes in the environment and responds to stimuli.
Sensory Neuron[edit | edit source]
The sensory neuron transmits the electrical signal from the sensory receptor to the spinal cord or brain.
Interneuron[edit | edit source]
The interneuron processes the information from the sensory neuron and sends a signal to the motor neuron.
Motor Neuron[edit | edit source]
The motor neuron carries the signal from the interneuron to the effector.
Effector[edit | edit source]
The effector is the muscle or gland that responds to the motor neuron signal, resulting in a reflex action.
Types of Reflex Arcs[edit | edit source]
There are two types of reflex arcs: autonomic reflex arc and somatic reflex arc.
Autonomic Reflex Arc[edit | edit source]
The autonomic reflex arc affects inner organs, such as regulating heart rate, digestion, and pupil dilation.
Somatic Reflex Arc[edit | edit source]
The somatic reflex arc affects muscles, such as causing the withdrawal of a hand from a hot stove.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Reflex arc Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD