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A cranial reflex is a fast, involuntary response to a stimulus. It uses the brain stem as an integrating center (the brain receives sensory information and generates a response). This is contrasted to a spinal reflex, when the response is generated in the spinal cord itself, and the brain only finds out a reflex has occurred after the fact.

An example of a cranial reflex would be the tracking movements of your eyes as you are reading this sentence. The dilation and contraction of your pupils in response to different levels of light is another cranial reflex.

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An example of a spinal reflex would be standing on a pin or touching a hot object.


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What two cranial nerves on the stimulated side must be functional for pupillary light reflex to occur?

The two cranial nerves that must be functional for the pupillary light reflex to occur are cranial nerve II (optic nerve) for the afferent pathway (carrying the visual information from the retina to the brain) and cranial nerve III (oculomotor nerve) for the efferent pathway (carrying the motor response to constrict the pupil).


Is the response of your pupil a reflex or a voluntary action?

The constriction of pupils in response to bright light is called the pupillary light reflex. If the light is shining directly into one eye, then the pupil in that eye will constrict (a direct response), but so will the pupil in the non-illuminated eye (a consensual response).This reflex involves two cranial nerves: the optic nerve, which senses the light, and the oculomotor nerve, which constricts both pupils. It is considered involuntary since you don't think about it.


What is a bilateral reflex?

The best examples of this is to shin a light in one eye and both pupils constrict. You are testing cranial nerve II.Or the corneal reflex (touch one cornea) both eyes blink, a test of CN VII or the palpebral reflex, touch one eye lid or lashes and both eyes blink, another test of CN VII.


What are some common reflexes?

Their are 4 types of reflexes:spinal reflex (knee jerk);cranial reflex (reading);somatic reflexes (involve contraction of skeletal muscles);autonomic (visceral) reflexes (involve responses of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands)


What cranial nerve is used when smelling a flower?

The Olfactory nerve. CN1 Cranial Nerve I, or the first cranial nerve called the Olfactory nerve.

Related Questions

What reflex is centered in the brain and involves cranial nerves?

The reflex that is centered in the brain and involves cranial nerves is the cranial reflex. An example of this is the pupillary light reflex, where light exposure causes the pupils to constrict. This reflex involves the optic nerve (Cranial Nerve II) for sensing light and the oculomotor nerve (Cranial Nerve III) for pupil constriction. The processing occurs in the brainstem, illustrating the integration of sensory and motor functions.


What are the cranial nerves involved in the corneal reflex?

It is the 7th cranial nerve (facial nerve).


What is the difference between a spinal reflex and a cranial reflex?

A cranial reflex is one that is controlled by one of the cranial nerves and tend to take place in the facial or head area. These can include reflexes like the constriction of the pupils in response to light, etc. A spinal reflex, on the other hand, is a reflex that involves only the spinal nerves and is not processed by the brain. An example is the patellar reflex, like when the doctor hits your knee and it reflexively moves. Hope this helps! :)


Which cranial nerve in responsible for the reflex constriction of the pupil in response to light and accomodation?

The oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III) is responsible for the reflex constriction of the pupil in response to light and accommodation.


What cranial nerve controls sneezing reflex?

Nervus trigeminus (V)


What neural injury will the corneal reflex not test for?

The corneal reflex will not test for injuries to the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) as it primarily assesses the integrity of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) and the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve.


What two cranial nerves on the stimulated side must be functional for pupillary light reflex to occur?

The two cranial nerves that must be functional for the pupillary light reflex to occur are cranial nerve II (optic nerve) for the afferent pathway (carrying the visual information from the retina to the brain) and cranial nerve III (oculomotor nerve) for the efferent pathway (carrying the motor response to constrict the pupil).


What nerve acts as the afferent pathway in the pupillary reflex?

The optic nerve (cranial nerve II) carries sensory information about light intensity to the brain as part of the afferent pathway in the pupillary reflex.


What is the difference between cerebral reflex and a spinal reflex?

There are two major differences between the dura of the brain and the dura of the cord. The dura of the brain consists of two layers; the periosteal layer is attached directly to the inner surface of the skull and the meningeal layer is deep to the periosteal layer. In places, the two layers are fused together; in other places, dural sinuses lie between the two layers. There is no epidural space associated with the brain


What is eye blinking in response to touch at the medial canthus?

This is the palpebral reflex and tests the function of cranial nerves V and VII. Absence of a palpebral reflex indicates an adequate plane of anesthesia for most surgical procedures.


What does the reflex response when the object coming near the eye?

This is the menace response, in which the eye perceives an object traveling towards it and the eyelids are slammed shut. The nerve relay is cranial nerve II (optic nerve), optic chiasma, visual cortex, cranial nerve V (trigeminal nerve).


A cranial reflex that is often used to test the sensory function of the trigeminal nerve is the?

corneal reflex. It involves touching the cornea with a wisp of cotton, which should trigger a blinking response mediated by the trigeminal nerve, specifically the ophthalmic branch. This reflex assesses the sensory function of the trigeminal nerve in detecting sensations on the cornea.