What are the basic components of the reflex arc?

The simplest arrangement of a reflex arc consists of the receptor, an interneuron (or adjustor), and an effector; together, these units form a functional group. Sensory cells carry input from the receptor (afferent impulses) to a central interneuron, which makes contact with a motor neuron.

What are all the parts and steps of a reflex arc?

So the reflex arc consists of these five steps in order-sensor, sensory neuron, control center, motor neuron, and muscle. These five parts work as a relay team to take information up from the sensor to the spinal cord or brain and back down to the muscles.

What does the reflex arc pathway include?

Reflex arcs Sensory neuron sends electrical impulses to a relay neuron, which is located in the spinal cord of the CNS. Relay neurons connect sensory neurons to motor neurons. Motor neuron sends electrical impulses to an effector. Effector produces a response (muscle contracts to move hand away).

Which is not required for a reflex arc?

A reflex does not require any thought input. The path taken by the nerve impulses in a reflex is called a reflex arc. In higher animals, most sensory neurons do not pass directly into the brain, but synapse in the spinal cord.

What is the correct order of a reflex arc?

Stimulus, sensory neuron, intermediary neuron, motor neuron and defector organ is the correct order of general reflex arc.

What is reflex arc explain with diagram?

A reflex arc is a simple nervous pathway which is responsible for the sudden reaction known as the reflex action. The afferent/sensory neurons are present in the receptor organ which receive the stimulus. The neuron transmits the sensory information from receptor organ to the spinal cord.

What is an example of a human reflex?

For example, if you put your hand on a hot stove, a reflex causes you to immediately remove your hand before a “Hey, this is hot!” message even gets to your brain. Other protective reflexes are blinking when something flies toward your eyes or raising your arm if a ball is thrown your way.

What makes up the components of a reflex arc?

When the muscle contracts, it shortens, pulling on the bones it is connected to, which causes us to jerk our hand or leg away from the stimuli. All of these different components work together to make up a reflex arc. It all starts with the sensory receptors. The cells containing the receptors are the sensory neurons.

How does an interneuron work in a reflex arc?

Interneurons are like the middleman of the nervous system. They connect sensory input to other cells that are required for action. In a reflex arc, the sensory neuron sends a signal to the interneuron and activates it. The interneuron then relays that signal to the next neuron, a motor neuron.

Where are the relay neurons located in a reflex arc?

Most reflex arcs are polysynaptic, meaning multiple interneurons (also called relay neurons) interface between the sensory and motor neurons in the reflex pathway. motor neuron: A neuron located in the central nervous system that projects its axon outside the CNS and directly or indirectly control muscles.

Which is the best description of a reflex?

A reflex is a rapid, unlearned, involuntary (automatic) response to a stimulus (change in the environment). Reflexes are responses that protect the body from potentially harmful events that require immediate action. They involve relatively few neurons (nerve cells) so that they can occur rapidly.