Reflex nerve pathway is a monosynaptic transmission. There are no interneurons involved. Only the limb that carries the afferent nerve impulse from the stimulus and the efferent motor function for the reflex involved. That is why it is faster. Normal nerve transmission require an interpretation of the impulse by the brain whereas reflex pathways do not. Another reason is because most reflexes from the exteroreceptors travel along myelinated axons (white matter) which carry the impulse faster than other neurons that have unmyelinated axons (grey matter).
reflex arc
Afferent pathway
Reflex Arc
Afferent pathway
Reflexes are rapid involuntary responses to a given stimuli. The reflex pathway that only has one synapse in the CNS is called the monosynaptic reflex arc.
The neural pathway of a single reflex is called a reflex arc. It involves the sensory neuron carrying information from the receptor to the spinal cord, where it synapses with a motor neuron that carries the response signal to the effector muscle or organ. This simple pathway allows for rapid, involuntary responses to stimuli.
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.
To remember the stages of a reflex arc in chemistry, you can use the acronym "SAID" which stands for stimulus, afferent pathway, integration center, and efferent pathway, and then the response. This mnemonic can help you recall the order of events in a reflex arc.
The short pathway that carries the impulse for an automatic response is called a reflex arc. It involves sensory neurons, interneurons in the spinal cord, and motor neurons to quickly produce a reflex action in response to a stimulus, bypassing the brain.
Transmission across a chemical synapse always involves a synaptic delay, but with only one synapse (a monosynaptic reflex), the delay between stimulus and response is minimized. In a polysynaptic reflex, the length of delay is proportional to the number of synapses involved.
The simplest pathway of an impulse involves the sensory neuron transmitting a signal to the interneuron in the spinal cord, which then relays the signal to the motor neuron, causing a response in a muscle or gland. This pathway is known as a reflex arc and allows for rapid, automatic responses to stimuli without involving the brain.
Damage to the spine can interrupt the transmission of nerve impulses involved in the reflex arc, leading to impaired or absent reflex responses. Depending on the location and severity of the damage, reflexes may be diminished, exaggerated, or completely absent. Physical therapy and rehabilitation techniques may help restore some function in reflex arcs affected by spinal damage.