The Spinal Reflex

Question 1

The steps of a spinal reflex

Answer 1

1. The sensation of a sensory stimulus is detected by the body’s sensory receptors, which send a signal via sensory neurons to the spinal cord.
2. The spinal cord, via interneurons, immediately relays a signal via motor neurons to initiate an automatic/ unconscious, involuntary and unlearned motor response to the skeletal muscles in response to the sensory stimulus
3. As the motor neurons send messages to tell the body to respond unconsciously, sensory nerurons send their neural impulses to the brain to make it aware of any pain or sensation. The brains’ conscious awareness is not necessary for the reflex response, but the brain will register the sensations independently after the reflex response has occured

Question 2

The spinal reflex

Answer 2

The spinal cord is responsible for spinal reflexes; which are unconscious, involuntary and unlearned (given the brain does not initiate the behaviour) reactions in the form of swift, automatic and finely coordinated movements in response to external stimuli.

The spinal cord via interneurons, immediately relays a signal via motor neurons to initiate an automatic/ unconscious motor response in the skeletal muscles to the sensory stimulus. As the motor neurons send messages to tell the body to respond unconsciously, sensory neurons send thier neural impulses to the brain to make it aware of any pain or sensation. The brains concious awareness is not necessary for the reflex response; but the brain will register the sensations independently and after the reflex response has occured