The patellar reflex is ipsilateral. If the stimulus is applied to left knee cap, the left knee responds. On the other hand, if the right knee were to respond to a left knee stimulus, the response would be considered contralateral.
While pupillary size in principle is controlled both by the sympathetic and the parasympathic nervous system, the typical closure of the pupil after illumination (i.e. the pupillary light reflex) is mediated by the parasympathetic innervation of the constrictor muscle of the pupil.
Clinical significance[edit]In addition to controlling the amount of light that enters the eye, the pupillary light reflex provides a useful diagnostic tool. It allows for testing the integrity of the sensory and motorfunctions of the eye.[1]Under normal conditions, the pupils of both eyes respond identically to a light stimulus, regardless of which eye is being stimulated. Light entering one eye produces a constriction of the pupil of that eye, the direct response, as well as a constriction of the pupil of the unstimulated eye, the consensual response. Comparing these two responses in both eyes is helpful in locating a lesion.[1][5]For example, a direct response in the right pupil without a consensual response in the left pupil suggests a problem with the motor connection to the left pupil (perhaps as a result of damage to the oculomotor nerve or Edinger-Westphal nucleus of the brainstem). Lack of response to light stimulation of the right eye if both eyes respond normally to stimulation of the left eye indicates damage to the sensory input from the right eye (perhaps to the right retina or optic nerve).[1]Emergency room physicians routinely assess the pupillary reflex because it is useful for gauging brain stem function. Normally, pupils react (i.e. constrict) equally. Lack of the pupillary reflex or an abnormal pupillary reflex can be caused by optic nerve damage, oculomotor nerve damage, brain stem death and depressant drugs, such as barbiturates.Normally, both pupils should constrict with light shone into either eye alone. On testing each reflex for each eye, several patterns are possible.[6]Optic nerve damage on one side: (Example in parens.: Left optic nerve lesion) The ipsilateral direct reflex is lost (Example: when the left eye is stimulated, neither pupil constricts, as no signals reach the brain from the left eye due to its damaged optic nerve)The ipsilateral consensual reflex is intact (because light shone into the right eye can signal to the brain, causing constriction of both pupils via the normal oculomotor nerves)The contralateral direct reflex is intact (because light shone into the right eye can signal to the brain, causing constriction of both pupils via the normal oculomotor nerves)The contralateral consensual reflex is lost (because light shone into the eye on the damaged side cannot signal to the brain; therefore, despite the right eye's motor pathway (oculomotor nerve) being intact, no signals from the left eye are able to stimulate it due to the damage to the sensory pathway (optic nerve) of the left eye)Oculomotor nerve damage on one side: (Example in parens: Left oculomotor lesion) The ipsilateral direct reflex is lost (Example: when the left eye is stimulated, only the right pupil constricts)The ipsilateral consensual reflex is lost (Example: when the right eye is stimulated, only the right pupil constricts)The contralateral direct reflex is intact (because light shone into both eyes can still signal to the brain, and the pupil on the undamaged side will still be able to constrict via its normal oculomotor nerve)The contralateral consensual reflex is intact (because light shone into the left eye can still signal to the brain via the normal optic nerve, causing attempted constriction of both pupils; the contralateral pupil constricts via its normal oculomotor nerve, but the ipsilateral pupil is unable to constrict due to its damaged oculomotor nerve)
The pupillary reflex helps to regulate the amount of light entering the eye, allowing for optimal vision in changing light conditions. This reflex helps protect the retina from damage due to excessive light exposure and ensures that visual information is processed effectively by the brain.
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.
Pupillary constriction is primarily controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system, specifically through the action of the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III). When light enters the eye, the oculomotor nerve stimulates the iris sphincter muscle, causing the pupil to constrict and reduce the amount of light entering the eye. This reflex is known as the pupillary light reflex.
The receptor in the pupillary reflex is the optic nerve, which senses changes in light intensity. The effector is the circular and radial muscles of the iris, which control the size of the pupil. In the pupillary reflex, both the receptor and the effector work together to adjust the size of the pupil to regulate the amount of light entering the eye.
pupillary light reflex is controlled by parasympathetic branch of Autonomous nervous system
Yes, the pupillary light reflex is mediated by both autonomic and somatic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system controls the constriction of the pupil in response to light, while the somatic nervous system controls the movement of the muscles that dilate and constrict the pupil.
While pupillary size in principle is controlled both by the sympathetic and the parasympathic nervous system, the typical closure of the pupil after illumination (i.e. the pupillary light reflex) is mediated by the parasympathetic innervation of the constrictor muscle of the pupil.
Clinical significance[edit]In addition to controlling the amount of light that enters the eye, the pupillary light reflex provides a useful diagnostic tool. It allows for testing the integrity of the sensory and motorfunctions of the eye.[1]Under normal conditions, the pupils of both eyes respond identically to a light stimulus, regardless of which eye is being stimulated. Light entering one eye produces a constriction of the pupil of that eye, the direct response, as well as a constriction of the pupil of the unstimulated eye, the consensual response. Comparing these two responses in both eyes is helpful in locating a lesion.[1][5]For example, a direct response in the right pupil without a consensual response in the left pupil suggests a problem with the motor connection to the left pupil (perhaps as a result of damage to the oculomotor nerve or Edinger-Westphal nucleus of the brainstem). Lack of response to light stimulation of the right eye if both eyes respond normally to stimulation of the left eye indicates damage to the sensory input from the right eye (perhaps to the right retina or optic nerve).[1]Emergency room physicians routinely assess the pupillary reflex because it is useful for gauging brain stem function. Normally, pupils react (i.e. constrict) equally. Lack of the pupillary reflex or an abnormal pupillary reflex can be caused by optic nerve damage, oculomotor nerve damage, brain stem death and depressant drugs, such as barbiturates.Normally, both pupils should constrict with light shone into either eye alone. On testing each reflex for each eye, several patterns are possible.[6]Optic nerve damage on one side: (Example in parens.: Left optic nerve lesion) The ipsilateral direct reflex is lost (Example: when the left eye is stimulated, neither pupil constricts, as no signals reach the brain from the left eye due to its damaged optic nerve)The ipsilateral consensual reflex is intact (because light shone into the right eye can signal to the brain, causing constriction of both pupils via the normal oculomotor nerves)The contralateral direct reflex is intact (because light shone into the right eye can signal to the brain, causing constriction of both pupils via the normal oculomotor nerves)The contralateral consensual reflex is lost (because light shone into the eye on the damaged side cannot signal to the brain; therefore, despite the right eye's motor pathway (oculomotor nerve) being intact, no signals from the left eye are able to stimulate it due to the damage to the sensory pathway (optic nerve) of the left eye)Oculomotor nerve damage on one side: (Example in parens: Left oculomotor lesion) The ipsilateral direct reflex is lost (Example: when the left eye is stimulated, only the right pupil constricts)The ipsilateral consensual reflex is lost (Example: when the right eye is stimulated, only the right pupil constricts)The contralateral direct reflex is intact (because light shone into both eyes can still signal to the brain, and the pupil on the undamaged side will still be able to constrict via its normal oculomotor nerve)The contralateral consensual reflex is intact (because light shone into the left eye can still signal to the brain via the normal optic nerve, causing attempted constriction of both pupils; the contralateral pupil constricts via its normal oculomotor nerve, but the ipsilateral pupil is unable to constrict due to its damaged oculomotor nerve)
The ciliospinal reflex and the pupillary light reflex are classified as autonomic reflexes.
The pupillary reflex helps to regulate the amount of light entering the eye, allowing for optimal vision in changing light conditions. This reflex helps protect the retina from damage due to excessive light exposure and ensures that visual information is processed effectively by the brain.
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.
The pupillary light reflex is a polysynaptic reflex. When light is sensed by the retina, a signal is sent via the optic nerve to the pretectal nuclei in the midbrain, which then sends signals to both the parasympathetic and sympathetic pathways controlling the muscles of the iris to constrict or dilate the pupil appropriately.
You probably mean the pupillary reflex. It is the reflex responsible for your pupils constricting (becoming smaller) when exposed to light and dilating (becoming bigger) when you walk into a dark room.
The division of autonomic nervous system responsible for pupillary light reflex is the parasympathetic system. This is what causes the pupils to close down or open up in response to lighting conditions.
In the experiment on the photopupillary reflex, when light is shone into one eye causing pupillary constriction (direct response), the nonilluminated eye will also exhibit pupillary constriction (consensual response) due to neural connections between both eyes and the brain. This demonstrates the consensual response component of the pupillary light reflex.