Reflex Arc is the nerve pathway involved in a

reflex action including at its simplest a sensory

nerve and a motor nerve with a synapse
between.

A reflex is an involuntary response to a sensory

stimulus.

The pathway of neurons involved in a reflex is

known as a reflex arc
Components of Reflexive Arc
1. Receptor - the sense organ (sight, taste, hear, touch and smell), It is
the site of stimulus actions

2. Sensory neurons -are the cells that contain sensory receptors. They
send information from the body to the central nervous system, the brain
and spinal cord. These cells are activated when the receptor gets a
signal from the environment

3. Interneurons are like the middleman of the nervous system. They

connect sensory input to other cells that are required for action. In a
reflex arc, the sensory neuron sends a signal to the interneuron and
activates it.

4. Motor neurons connect with interneurons in the spinal cord. They

send messages from the central nervous system to the body. The motor
neurons run out of the spinal cord and connect with a muscle.

5. Effector -muscle innervated by the efferent nerve fiber carries out the
response.
Process of Reflex Arc
How does the Reflex Arc Function?
2 types of Reflex Arc

1. Autonomic reflex- Any reflex involving the

response of a visceral effector (cardiac muscle,
smooth muscle, or gland) .any of a large number of
normal reflexes governing and regulating the
functions of the viscera. Autonomic reflexes control
such activities of the body as blood pressure, heart
rate, peristalsis, sweating, and urination. It affects
the inner organs

2. Somatic reflex- It affects the muscles…During a

somatic reflex, nerve signals travel along the
following pathway:
2.1. Somatic receptors in the skin, muscles and
tendons

2.2. Afferent nerve fibers carry signals from the

somatic receptors to the posterior horn of the spinal
cord or to the brainstem

2.3. An integrating center, the point at which the

neurons that compose the gray matter of the spinal
cord or brainstem synapse

2.4. Efferent nerve fibers carry motor nerve signals

from the anterior horn to the muscles

2.5. Effector muscle innervated by the efferent nerve

fiber carries out the response.
Examples of Reflex Arc

Monosynaptic reflex - A simple reflex that involves

transmission of information from a sensory neuron to the
appropriate motor neuron across a single synapse in the
spinal cord.

Polysynaptic reflex - A reflex action that involves an electrical

impulse being transferred from a sensory neuron to a motor
neuron via at least one connecting neuron (interneuron) in
the spinal cord.

Mono reflex v Poly reflex: Monosynaptic reflexes involve only

one central synapse in the spinal cord grey matter, between
the afferent and the efferent neurons. On the other hand,
polysynaptic reflexes involve two to several synapses
involving one or more interneurons.
7 FACTS ABOUT REFLEX ARC

- Urinating or shivering are inborn reflexes you were born with.

- When you put something on a baby's hand, the baby will automatically grab
it. This is called the "Primitive Reflex", primitive reflex are reflexes that babies
have for a few months after they are born.

- Condition reflexes are those you learn through habit, as certain pathways in
the nervous system are used again and again.

- Reflex reactions make you pull your hand from hot things before you had to
think about it. This works by short-circuiting the brain. The alarm signal from
your hand sets of motor signals in the spinal cord to move the hand.

- Some experts believe that yawning is a territorial reflex, an action that serves
to make the body appear larger by stretching out the arms and opening the
mouth. When humans witness animals yawning, our reaction is to become
conscious of the creature's teeth and fighting potential.

- Goosebumps materialise on a person's skin when it's cold or they experience

a powerful emotional reaction like fear, melancholy, pleasure, awe, or sexual
arousal.

- An average human's reaction time takes between 150-300 milliseconds.

i. multiple choice
1. It is an involuntary response to a sensory stimulus
a. involuntary muscles b. reflex c. motor nerve d. motor neurons

2. These cells gets activated when receptors gets signal from the
environment
a. motor neurons b. somatic reflex c. nerve signals d. sensory
neurons

3. It carries signal from the somatic receptor to the posterior horn of the
spinal cord
a. afferent nerve fibers b. somatic reflex c. motor nerves d. efferent
never fibers

4. Pathway of neurons involved in a reflex

a. reflex way b. reflex arc c. reflex nerve d. reflex fibers

5. Reflex that babies have for a few months after they are born
a. primitive reflex b. inborn reflex c. condition reflex d. baby reflex
ii. Identification

1. A reflex action that involves an electrical impulse being

transferred from a sensory neuron to a motor neuron

2. Reflex involving the response of a visceral effector

3. It is the average humans reaction time .

4. It activates the interneuron .

5. Reflex you learn from your habits

iii. True or false (if false yung underlined word palitan nung
correct word)

1. Integrating nerve fibers carry motor nerve signals from

the anterior horn to the muscles

2. Urinating is an inborn reflex

3. Monosynaptic reflex involves 2 to several synapses

involving 1 or more interneurons

4. Sensory neurons send info from the brain to the central

nervous system

5. During a somatic reflex nerve signals travel along 5

pathways