Physiology of Reflexes

Dr .Lanka KEERTHI
Asst Professor
Dept of Physiology
SMCW,Pune
SLO
• Definition of Reflexes.
• Classification.
• Properties of Reflex
• Importance of Reflexes.
• Components of Reflex arc.
• Golgi tendon organ innervations
• Muscle Spindle
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlZ0z9URqWE
Introduction
• A reflex is a response to a stimulus that occurs without the need for
conscious thought.
• A stimulus is any change in a living organism’s internal or external
environment that can influence the organism’s activity.
• A response is a change in the body that occurs as a reaction to a
stimulus.
• An effector is the part of a body that carries out a response to a
stimulus.
Neonatal Reflex
Reflex Arc
Example 1: Identifying the Correct Process of a
Reflex Arc

• Which of the following shows the correct process of a reflex arc?

A. Stimulus, receptor, motor neuron, relay neuron, sensory neuron, effector,
response
B. Stimulus, receptor, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron, effector,
response
C. Receptor, stimulus, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron,
effector, response
D. Receptor, stimulus, relay neuron, sensory neuron, motor neuron,
effector, response
E. Stimulus, receptor, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron,
response, effector
Example 2: Describing the Role of Receptors in
the Human Body
• Which of the following best describes the role of receptors in the
human body?
A. They bring about a response.
B. They transmit signals across the central nervous system.
C. They detect changes in the external environment.
D. They transmit electrical impulses across synapses.
E. They release hormones.
Let’s illustrate the reflex arc using an example.
Illustration of DTR(Patellar Reflex)
Key Points

• The human nervous system comprises the central nervous

system and the peripheral nervous system.
• A stimulus is a change in the environment of an organism,
which will bring about a response.
• Reflex actions largely involve the peripheral nervous system.
• The 7 components of a reflex are as follows:
stimulus → receptor → sensory neuron → relay neuron
(interneuron) → motor neuron → effector → response.
• Reflexes are involuntary reactions specialized for
protecting the body from injury.
STRETCH REFLEX
• Definition: The reflex contraction of the muscle to stretch when a
skeletal muscle with its intact nerve supply is stretched is called the
stretch reflex.
• also known as myotactic reflex
• It is the best known monosynaptic reflex in the body
• Stretch reflex is the quickest of all the reflexes.
• Reaction time is 16-19ms.
• Examples of stretch reflexes are knee jerk, ankle jerk, biceps jerk, and
• triceps jerk
STRETCH REFLEX
• The stretch reflex is the key reflex in the regulation of posture and
movement.
• stimulus is the stretch of the muscle and the response is the
contraction of the stretched muscle.
• monosynaptic reflex.
• two types of stretch reflexes: the phasic stretch reflex and the tonic
stretch reflex.
Stretch Reflex
• Receptor-Muscle Spindle
• Afferent- IA fibers
• Efferent- Motor Neuron
• Effector- Extrafusal Muscle fibers.
• Response – Contraction of Agonists & Relaxation of Antagonists
• examples are tendon reflexes(Bicep Reflex, Tricep Reflex Patellar
Reflex etc.)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPJJWb5EYOY
Clinical Significance

• Tendon reflex reflects the general excitability of motor neurons.

• 1. When excitability of the motor neurons is altered in different
pathological conditions the tendon reflexes are depressed or
exaggerated.
• 2. This helps the physician to diagnose the nature of the neurological
deficit based on the response of the tendon reflexes. Especially, the
excitability of γ motor neurons is more important as it controls
spindle sensitivity.
• 3. Exaggeration of tendon reflex is an index of increased γ motor
neuron discharge and depression of reflex indicates decreased γ
motor neuron activity.
INVERSE STRETCH REFLEX
• Definition: Relaxation of the muscle in response to a strong stretch is
called inverse stretch reflex. This is also known as autogenic
inhibition.
• Receptors-Golgi tendon organs (GTO).
• Stimulus- Strong Stretch
• Afferent-IB fibers
Inverse Stretch Reflex

This is a disynaptic reflex.

Functions
• Golgi tendon organ monitors force developed in the muscle.
• a stronger stretch imparted on the muscle automatically inhibits the
muscle
Physiological Significance
• Muscle spindle (stretch reflex) monitors muscle length and GTO
(inverse stretch reflex) monitors muscle tension, i.e. the force of
contraction.
• Stretch reflex and inverse stretch reflex by acting together maintain
optimal motor responses (of muscle tension and muscle length) for
postural adjustments
• Inverse stretch reflex, by allowing the muscle to relax, prevents
rupture of muscle when the muscle is stretched to greater extents.
WITHDRAWAL REFLEX
• Withdrawal reflex is an example of polysynaptic spinal reflex.
• This is also called flexor withdrawal reflex because activation of it
causes withdrawal of the body parts by flexing the limbs.
• The receptors are nociceptors that are present in the skin, muscle,
tendon, or joints
• afferents are called flexor reflex afferents (FRA)-type III and IV
somatic afferents.
WITHDRAWAL REFLEX
• One branch activates a set of interneurons that, in turn, excites α
motor neurons supplying flexor muscles of the same side.
• Another branch activates a separate set of interneurons that, in turn,
inhibits α motor neurons supplying the same side extensor muscles.
• A branch of the interneuron (commissural interneurons) excited by
FRA crosses the midline to enter the opposite side of the ventral horn
and terminate on opposite set of interneurons.
WITHDRAWAL REFLEX
Response
• flexion of the ipsilateral limb due to activation of flexor group of
muscles and inhibition of extensor group of muscles.
• If the stimulus is stronger, extension of the contralateral limb occurs
due to activation of extensor group of muscles and inhibition of flexor
group of muscles.
• This opposite pattern of action in the opposite limb is called crossed
extension reflex or Phillipson’s reflex
Special Features of Withdrawal Reflex
• Protective reflex
• Prepotent-when this reflex is activated, temporarily other reflex
activities in the spinal cord almost stop at that moment, so that the
spinal cord carries out the reflex responses precisely and without
delay
Properties of Spinal Reflexes
• Adequate Stimulus
• Convergence-For example, many group Ia afferent fibers from muscle
spindle of a particular muscle converging monosynaptically on a
single α motor neuron.
• Divergence-The example of divergence is the termination of flexor
reflex afferent on many motor neurons via different sets of
interneurons in the spinal cord.
• Facilitation-Convergence provides the physiological basis of
facilitation
• Inhibition-reciprocal inhibition
• Summation
• Occlusion
• Subliminal Fringe
• Habituation
• Recruitment
• Final common pathway.