Reflex
Definition: It is an involuntary response to a sudden, adequate stimulus. OR
A sensory input/signal is automatically is converted into a motor response without
cortical involvement (conscious involvement).
Classification of reflexes:
Anatomical:
1. Spinal/stretch reflex:
o Deep tendon reflexes
2. Supraspinal reflex:
o Light reflex
o Corneal reflex
Physiological:
1. Flexor/withdrawal reflex:
o Protective reflexes
2. Extensor reflex:
o Postural reflexes
Number of synapses involved:
1. Monosynaptic:
o Knee jerk
2. Oligosynaptic:
o Golgi Tendon Organ reflex
3. Polysynaptic:
o Pain reflex
Clinical:
1. Superficial reflex:
o Elicited from skin or cornea
2. Deep reflex:
o Tendon reflex
3. Visceral reflex:
o Eg: Gastrocolic reflex
4. Pathological reflex:
o Babinski’ s sign in pyramidal tract lesion.
Innate OR Acquired:
o Unconditioned reflex: Eg. Presentation of food produces reflex salivation.
o Conditioned reflex: Pavlov’ s classical conditioning.
Reflex Arc:
Properties of the reflexes: Since the reflex involves atleast a single synapse or even
more synapses, hence many of the properties of a synapse are applicable to the
reflexes.
1. Delay
2. Summation:
a) Spatial
b) Temporal
3. Fatigue
4. Occlusion
5. Subliminal fringe
In addition, there are some other properties of reflexes:
6. Localization: A specific stimulus applied to a particular locus (part) causes a
specific reflex response.
7. Reciprocal innervation: In an afferent nerve is stimulated, the protagonists
contract and the antagonists relax. This is due to reciprocal innervation of the
neurons from the spinal cord.
8. Facilitation: If a receptor or a sensory neuron, i.e. afferent path of a reflex
arc is stimulated a reflex response is obtained. If immediately after the first
stimulus, a second stimulus is applied, the reflex response occurs quicker than
the time taken by the first response.
9. Fractionation: When a motor nerve to a muscle forming a reflex arc is
stimulated, we get a maximal response. When the corresponding sensory nerve
in this reflex arc is stimulated, the response is only a fraction of the total
response obtained from the motor nerve stimulation.
The afferent neurons enter into different levels of spinal cord, and ultimately
converge upon a final common path. And, a particular reflex response is due
to sum total of inhibitory and excitatory effects produced by the converging
fibers in the spinal cord.
10. Rebound: This phenomenon is observed with reflex inhibition. Sometimes, it is
seen that with cessation of reflex inhibition, the reflex response returns with
greater magnitude. This is called as rebound. It is possibly due to overexcitation
following a transient inhibition.
11. Irradiation: It is observed that if a painful stimulus is applied to the toes,
there is not only flexion of the toes, but also contraction of flexor muscles
of the foot, ankle and the entire limb is withdrawn from the stimulus.
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12. Recruitment: If an afferent neuron is stimulated repeatedly, initially there is
some response, and then the response gradually increases and becomes
maximum. This is thought to be due to phenomenon of ‘ recruitment’ . Initially,
the stimulation excites the motor neurons in the reflex arc, and gradually the
other neurons in the motoneurons pool start to fire. Since more and more
motoneurons are recruited in the reflex process.
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