Difference between revisions of "Reflex Arcs - Anatomy & Physiology"
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|linktext =Nervous and Special Senses | |linktext =Nervous and Special Senses | ||
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** The [[Macroscopic Anatomy of the CNS#2. Descending Pathways|descending tracts]] originate from the brain to allow responses to be modulated. | ** The [[Macroscopic Anatomy of the CNS#2. Descending Pathways|descending tracts]] originate from the brain to allow responses to be modulated. | ||
** These tracts constitute the white matter of the spinal cord. | ** These tracts constitute the white matter of the spinal cord. | ||
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Revision as of 12:20, 31 August 2010
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This article is still under construction. |
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- The reflex arc is the basic functional unit of the nervous system and consists of 2 linked components: the sensory input and the output response.
| Detection via sensory receptors e.g: | Response via effectors e.g: |
| Skin receptors | Skeletal Muscle |
| Muscle Spindles | Smooth Muscle |
| Retina | . |
| Organ of Corti | . |
| Olfactory Mucosa | . |
- Animals are divided into body segments, according to the segmental nature of the spinal cord.
- Reflex arcs may involve a single segment, or mutliple segments up and down the body.
- However, reflex arcs do not require brain input in order to function.
- The brain can act to modulate reflex; for example, some reflex pathways may be inhibited by the brain.
- The brain obtains its afferent information via the ascending sensory tracts of the spinal cord.
- The descending tracts originate from the brain to allow responses to be modulated.
- These tracts constitute the white matter of the spinal cord.