The stimulus is what triggers the reflex response.
reflex
reflex
The sensory receptor, sensory neuron, motor neuron, and effector involved in a reflex form a reflex arc. This is a neural pathway that controls a reflex action in response to a stimulus without conscious thought.
Reflex
The component that determines the response to a stimulus in a reflex arc is the interneuron. This neuron receives the sensory input from the sensory neuron, processes the information, and then sends signals to initiate the appropriate motor response via the motor neuron.
An effector is a part of the body (such as a muscle or gland) that carries out the response in a reflex arc. In a reflex arc, when a stimulus is detected by a sensory receptor, a message is sent via a sensory neuron to the spinal cord, where it is processed, and then a message is sent via a motor neuron to the effector causing a response.
The first element in a spinal reflex is the sensory receptor, which detects a stimulus. The last element is the effector, which carries out a response to the stimulus.
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.--------------An example of a spinal reflex would be standing on a pin or touching a hot object.
This type of reflex is known as a monosynaptic reflex. It involves a single synapse between the sensory neuron and the motor neuron in the spinal cord, leading to a rapid response to a stimulus without involvement of higher brain centers. An example of a monosynaptic reflex is the knee-jerk reflex.
Interneurons are located in the spinal cord. They act as the middlemen in transmitting signals between sensory neurons (that detect stimuli) and motor neurons (that generate a response). In a spinal reflex pathway, after receiving sensory input from a sensory neuron, the interneuron processes the information before signaling the motor neuron to carry out a response.
The reflex response occurs via a direct pathway called the reflex arc that bypasses the brain, allowing for a rapid reaction to stimuli. Sensory neurons transmit signals to the spinal cord, where interneurons immediately relay the message to motor neurons, triggering a quick muscle response. The brain receives the sensory information afterward, allowing for conscious awareness of the event, but the reflex action happens first to ensure a swift response to potential threats or dangers. This mechanism prioritizes survival by minimizing response time.
An ipsilateral reflex arc refers to a neural pathway where sensory input and motor output occur on the same side of the body. For example, in a knee-jerk reflex, the sensory neuron detects a stimulus and the motor neuron causes a response, both on the same side.