Recall the afferent and efferent arms of the corneal reflex

Question 1

Describe the afferent and efferent arms of the corneal reflex

Answer 1

• Afferent: sensory afferents from the cornea travel via the opthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, reach the trigeminal sensory nucleus then synapse with the spinal trigeminal interneurons which project to the facial motor nucleus
• Efferent: fibres from the facial motor nucleus innervate the orbicularis oculi muscle and cause you to blink in the reflex

Question 2

What is the corneal reflex and just describe how you might elicit it - note it is not carried out in the ospe?

Answer 2

When the eye blind upon exposure to something foreign

You can elicit it by placing the end of a bit of cotton wool on the eye