Lesson 18 Flashcards
reflexes
quick, involuntary, stereotyped reaction of glands or muscle to stimulation; controlled by the spinal cord alone
what do reflexes require? (4)
require stimulation, quick, involuntary, stereotyped
somatic reflexes
reflexes involving the somatic nervous system, innervating skeletal muscle
visceral reflexes
reflexes involving organs such as heart and intestines
reflexes generally _____ original stimulus, what is this called?
opposes; negative feedback
somatic reflex arc (5)
- somatic receptors in skin, muscle, or tendons
- afferent nerve fibers carry information from receptors to posterior horn of the spinal cord or the brainstem
- integrating center: a point of synaptic contact between neurons in gray matter of the spinal cord or brainstem
- effect nerve fibers carry motor impulses to muscles
- effectors the muscles that carry out the response
four classification of reflexes
- development
- type of motor response
- complexity of neural circuit
- site of information processing
innate reflexes (3)
- formed before birth
- basic neural reflexes
- withdrawal from pain, chewing, sucking, tracking objects with eyes
acquired reflexes (3)
- learned motor patterns
- rapid, automatic
- riding a bike, pressing breaks when cut off
motor response
nature of resulting motor response
somatic reflexes (3)
involuntary control of the nervous system
1. superficial reflexes of the skin and mucous membranes
2. stretch or deep tendon reflexes
visceral reflexes
aka autonomic reflexes
- control systems other than muscular system
- smooth/cardiac muscles, glands, adipose tissue
monosynaptic reflex
sensory neuron synapses directly onto motor neurons
polysynaptic reflex
at least one interneuron between the sensory and motor neurons
spinal reflexes
occur in the spinal cord
cranial reflexes
occur in the brian
intersegmental reflex arcs
- many spinal segments interact producing highly variable motor responses
monosynaptic reflex arcs (3)
- little synaptic delay
- very prompt response
- knee-jerk reflex
reciprocal inhibition
reflex phenomenon that prevents muscles from working against each other by inhibiting antagonist when agonist is excited
stretch (myotatic) reflex (3)
when a muscle is stretch it “fights back” and contracts
- helps maintain equilibrium and posture
- stabilizes joints
what is the stretch reflex primarily mediated by?
the brain, but it’s spinal component can be more pronounced if muscle is suddenly stretched by a tendon tap (like knee jerk)
muscle spindles (4)
stretch receptors embedded in skeletal muscles
- serve as proprioceptors
- inform brain of muscle length and body movement
- enable brain to send motor commands back to the muscles and control coordinated movement
intrafusal fibers
modified muscles fibers within a muscle spindle
extrafusal fibers
muscle fibers outside the muscle spindle that generate force