Illustrate A Simple Spinal Refkex Using The Knee-jerk Reflex As An Example

Question 1

What is a spinal reflex?

Answer 1

An involuntary, instantaneous motor response that does NOT require higher brain centre involvement.

Question 2

What muscle is invoked in somatic reflexes?

Answer 2

Skeletal

Question 3

What muscle is involved in autonomic reflexes?

Answer 3

Smooth muscle and glands e.g bladder sphincter

Question 4

What does interneurone mean?

Answer 4

Join sensory to motor and modulate various effects / responses between the two

Question 5

What type of synapse Is involved in Spinal reflexes?

Answer 5

Monosynaptic, but sometimes polysynaptic

Question 6

Explain the knee jerk reflex

Answer 6

Two neurons take part in the knee jerk reflex which is monosynaptic.
- The knee jerk reflex is where the stretch reflex carrying when a tendon is stretched as it crosses a joint. Hitting the tendon below the flex knee sets of a nerve impulse when the sensory nerve endings in the tendon and muscle are stretched.
- The impulse reaches the cell body of the motor neuron located in the grey matter and causes it to contract and the foot to move forwards.