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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {| align="center" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" border="2" | ||
+ | |- style="background:#B0E0E6; color:black" | ||
+ | |'''Detection via sensory receptors e.g:''' | ||
+ | |'''Response via effectors e.g:''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |Skin receptors | ||
+ | |Skeletal Muscle | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |Muscle Spindles | ||
+ | |Smooth Muscle | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |Retina | ||
+ | |<font color=white>.</font> | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |Organ of Corti | ||
+ | |<font color=white>.</font> | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |Olfactory Mucosa | ||
+ | |<font color=white>.</font> | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 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 [[Macroscopic Anatomy of the CNS#1. Ascending Pathways|ascending sensory tracts]] of the spinal cord. | ||
+ | ** 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. |
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.