Difference between revisions of "Reflex Arcs - Anatomy & Physiology"

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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.
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{| align="center" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" border="2"
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|- style="background:#B0E0E6; color:black"
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|'''Detection via sensory receptors e.g:'''
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|'''Response via effectors e.g:'''
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|Skin receptors
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|Skeletal Muscle
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|-
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|Muscle Spindles
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|Smooth Muscle
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|-
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|Retina
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|<font color=white>.</font>
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|-
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|Organ of Corti
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|<font color=white>.</font>
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|-
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|Olfactory Mucosa
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|<font color=white>.</font>
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* Animals are divided into body segments, according to the segmental nature of the spinal cord.
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** Reflex arcs may involve a single segment, or mutliple segments up and down the body.
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** '''However, reflex arcs do not require brain input in order to function.'''
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* The brain can act to modulate reflex; for example, some reflex pathways may be inhibited by the brain.
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** The brain obtains its afferent information via the [[Macroscopic Anatomy of the CNS#1. Ascending Pathways|ascending sensory tracts]] of the spinal cord.
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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.
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** These tracts constitute the white matter of the spinal cord.

Revision as of 15:34, 14 August 2009


 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.
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