Reflex

Pavlina Buckova M.D. 10/2013

 Reflex is the basic functional element of the nervous system A reflex action, is an involuntary and nearly instantaneous, constant movement in response to a stimulus, mediated via the reflex arc

Reflex arc consists of

sensor (receptor) centripetal (afferent) pathway processing center centrifugal (efferent) pathway executive organ (effector)

Component

Description The receptor end of a dendrite or a specialized receptor cell in a sensory organ Dendrite, cell body, and axon of a sensory (afferent) neuron Dendrite, cell body, and axon of a neuron within the brain or spinal cord Dendrite, cell body, and axon of a motor (efferent) neuron A muscle or gland outside the nervous system

Function

Receptor

Sensitive to an internal or external change

Sensory neuron

Transmits nerve impulse from the receptor to the brain or spinal cord

Interneuron

Serves as processing center; conducts nerve impulse from the sensory neuron to a motor neuron

Motor neuron

Transmits nerve impulse from the brain or spinal cord to an effector

Effector

Responds to simulation by the motor neuron and produces the reflex behavioral action.

Excitatory synapse
Synapse in which an action potential in a presynaptic neuron increases the probability of an action potential occurring in a postsynaptic cell. if the total of excitatory influences exceeds that of the inhibitory influences, the neuron will generate a new action potential at its axon hillock This phenomenon is known as an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

NEUROTRANSMITERS
EXCITATORY 1. DOPAMINE 2. NOREPINEPHRINE 3. EPINEPHRINE 4. SEROTONIN

Inhibitory synapsis
An inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) is a kind of synaptic potential that makes a postsynaptic neuron less likely to generate an action potential An electrical current is generated which changes the postsynaptic membrane potential to create a more negative postsynaptic potential

NEURO TRANSMITTERS
INHIBITORY 1. GLYCINE 2. GLUTAMINE 3. GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA)

The all-or-none law

the principle that the strength by which a nerve or muscle fiber responds to a stimulus is independent of the strength of the stimulus. If the stimulus exceeds the threshold potential, the nerve or muscle fiber will give a complete response; otherwise, there is no response. Either the single fiber does not respond with spike production, or it responds to the maximum of its ability under the conditions at the moment

Muscle contraction

Muscle spindle

Reflex
Monosynaptic Polysynaptic

Monosynaptic reflex
the simplest type of reflex consists of only two nerve cells (neurons) afferent (sensory, centripetal) neuron leads excitation through a single synapse to efferent (motor, centrifugal) neuron.

Reciprocal phenomenon (reciprocal innervation)

The sensory input from the muscle also activates local interneurons that release the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine onto motor neurons, blocking the innervation of the antagonistic muscle leads to the relaxation of the opposing muscle

Polysynaptic reflex
In the reflex arc there is connected at least one additional neuron (interneuron)

This reflex is a combination of:

flexor reflex that takes place on the leg affected by pain stimuli extensor reflexes in the limb that is not exposed to stimuli, to maintain body position. Both kinds of reflexes occurred principle of reciprocal innervation to agonist and antagonist muscle groups

Grade - Description
0 Absent 1+ or +Diminished 2+ or ++"Normal 3+ or +++Hyperactive without clonus 4+ or ++++Hyperactive with clonus

Thank you for your attention