notes nervous system: reflexes Flashcards
what is a reflex?
an automatic patterned response to a stimulus
what is the reflex arc?
sensory receptor, afferent neuron, integration center, efferent neuron, effector organ
if a reflex is innate, it would be…
intrinsic
if a reflex is learned it would be…
learned
what reflex involves skeletal muscle?
somatic
where does the reflex occur in ipsilateral movement?
on the same side of the body as the stimulus
what reflex is controlled by the autonomic nervous system?
visceral
where does the reflex occur in contralateral movement?
on the opposite side of the body of the stimulus
what type of reflex is ipsilateral movement?
withdrawal reflex
what type of reflex is contralateral movement?
crossed-extensor reflex
what is the function of the stretch reflex?
the reflex responds to the stretching of a muscle using a muscle spindle
when does a muscle spindle activate?
when muscle length increases
what does a muscle spindle do?
sends afferent information about changes in length of a muscle to the CNS
what happens to action potential when muscle spindles are lengthened?
the number of action potentials increases
what neuron do the action potentials sent by muscle spindles travel down?
afferent
where does the afferent neuron synapse?
in the spinal cord
what would happen if two muscles would contract at the same time?
no movement would occur
what two neurons does the afferent neuron synapse with in the patellar tendon reflex?
efferent neuron and interneuron
what neuron stimulates the quadriceps?
efferent neuron
what neuron stimulates the hamstrings?
interneuron
what is the function of an interneuron?
connects two neurons
what is reciprocal inhibition
a neuron sending a signal to inhibit the contraction of one muscle so another will be able to contract
what type of signal does an interneuron send to an efferent neuron of the hamstring?
inhibitory signal
what is the golgi tendon organ
it is a sensory receptor that senses tension and rate of change of tension in the muscle
