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An involuntary action that is performed by our body in response to something is known as reflex action. It is important for our immediate survival or you can say helps us to respond quickly to anything that can harm us.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoA reflex is an inbuilt mechanism (in our DNA). An automatic reflex is important to protect the body. For example if you accidentally place your hand on a hot stove, the reflex pulls your hand from the heatsource faster than your brain could have made the desicion. The reflex happens so fast, you survive without major damage. Another example of a reflex is to close your eyes when an object is flying towards you, it helps to keep your eyes intact.
Reflexes are developed over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution and they are one of the main reason why a species survives. In a way they are an adaptation to one's surroundings.
Imagine a place where there are a lot of flying debris around. That would mean closing one's eyes would be impractical all the time. In these kinds of situations something else replaces the eye-closing reflex. The solution could be something similar cats have. Cats have a second set of eye-lids, half transparent. That protects the eye, but allows the cats to see through partially. Cats use this second set of lids when they fight or hunt.
There are naturally some reflexes humans do not need anymore, for example the reflex to puff your fur when cold. We still have that, eventhough we do not have fur.
There are couple of different types of reflexes, though
1) Protective reflexes (like mentioned above + vomiting reflex, cough reflex, sneeze reflex)
2) Reflexes only infants have (fe. asymmetrical tonic neck reflex)
3) Reflexes that work inside the human body,
aka physiological reflexes (fe. gastrocolic reflex and other intestine reflexes)
4) Social reflexes ( fe. pupils dilate when you are in love, blushing when embarrassed, yawn mirroring)
5) Reflexes that react to one's surroundings
(fe. mammalian diving reflex, puffing fur, startling reflex, reduction of pupil size in response to light)
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What type of reflex does not involve the brain?
A spinal reflex does not involve the brain. This type of reflex is controlled by the spinal cord and does not require the brain to initiate a response. Examples include the knee-jerk reflex and the withdrawal reflex.
What is the difference between a unconditioned reflex and a conditioned reflex?
does not involve nerves
Discuss the differences between the sucking rooting reflex rooting reflex grasping reflex and the moro reflex?
The sucking reflex is when a baby automatically sucks on anything that touches their lips. The rooting reflex is when a baby turns its head toward a stimulus that strokes their cheek. The grasping reflex is when a baby grips objects placed in their palm. The moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, is triggered by a sudden movement or noise causing the baby to arch their back and fling their arms out.
What is the difference between a simple reflex and a conditioned?
A simple refelx refers to a reflex inborn, such as blinking or coughing. Meanwhile,a conditioned reflex is a reflex developed by an individual owing to learning/experience such as playing a musical instrument,where notes can be played without attention due to experience.
How might having to think about a reflex before it happens affect you?
it will take to long and will probably be to late for your reflex to start.
Why is the Achilles reflex important in walking?
science
Why are reflex arcs important?
to protect our body from harmful stuff.
Why does the body vomit?
Vomiting is a natural reflex triggered by the ingestion of toxins. This reflex is an important one to ensure that recognized toxins are expelled from the body.
What is the important reflex action?
One important aspect of reflex action is to help protect us without having to think. Reflex actions are involuntary and quick. They are done to meet an emergency and occur at the level of the spinal cord. Examples include the gag reflex clearing unplanned foreign objects or your eyelid closing when something gets near your eye.
Which nerve is important for the ankle jerk reflex?
medial popliteal nerve
How does the mechanoreceptor reflex effect breathing?
The mechanoreceptor reflex is composed of the inflation reflex and the deflation reflex. The inflation reflex limits the duration of inspiration in response to stretching the walls of the lungs. The deflation reflex stimulates inspiration when the lungs are collapsed. Mechanoreceptor reflexes are insignificant during quiet respiration but they are very important during forced respiration. The mechanoreceptor reflex makes sure your brain knows when to stop breathing and start breathing, basically.
What are two example of reflex actions and their importance?
The Pupillary Light Reflex and the Corneal Reflex (or Blink Reflex) are two important reflexes because the Light Reflex prevents damage to eye compopents related to over exposure to light and also helps the eye to accommodate visually, when there is less light; The Blink Reflex prevents objects from entering the eye and lubricates the eye. Also, breathing and heart beat are thought to be reflex actions.
what type of reflex is the knee?
The knee reflex is also called the knee-jerk reflex by tapping the patellar tendon with a reflex hammer. This sends sensory information to the spinal cord at L4 and motor information back to the Quadriceps in the thigh (relaxing the hamstrings). This is reflex requires only two neurons. No interneuron. And so is very rapid. It is important in balance and posture.
Is the knee-jerk reflex a simple reflex stretch reflex or a spinal reflex?
spinal reflex
What is the proper name for the hammer a doctor uses to test your reflex?
The proper name for the hammer a doctor uses to test your reflex is just "reflex hammer". It is a medical instrument used by physicians to test deep tendon reflexes and is an important part of a neurological physical examination.
Is a gag reflex a somatic reflex?
No, a somatic reflex are the reflexes of the skeletal muscle movements. The gag reflex is considered to be an autonomic reflex.
The patellar reflex is a type of?
knee jerk aka patellar reflex is an example of a stretch reflex
