MHAP 2032:
APLLIED PHYSIOLOGY II
Unit 1: Nervous System
1.2: Spinal Reflex
Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome CLO LOT
LO1 Comprehend types of spinal reflex CLO1 C2
LO2 Explain physiology of spinal reflex CLO2 C2
Lecture : 2
Tutorial : 1
IL NF2F : 3
Total SLT : 6
Spinal Reflex
Reflexes can be categorized in the following
variable ways.
Two types of reflexes:
Simple/ Basic/ Innate Reflexes
The spinal cord and brain stem ─ integrate innate reflexes
Conditioned/Acquired Reflexes
The higher brain levels ─ process acquired reflexes
Simple/ Basic/ Innate
Reflexes
Innate (inborn) reflexes are genetically
determined.
Reflexes are built-in, unlearned responses.
Examples:
Withdrawal reflex
Micturition reflex
Pupillary constriction reflex
Conditioned/Acquired
Reflexes
Conditioned (or acquired) reflexes are a result of
learning
Example:
Increased secretion of saliva on smelling a favorite
food being prepared.
Increased salivation ─ innate salivary reflex (a cranial reflex)
on tasting a favorite food
mouth waters (increased salivation) ─ a conditioned salivary
reflex, once you have learned to associate the smell with the
anticipation of getting to eat the tasty food.
Reflex Arc
A reflex is a fast, involuntary sequence of
actions that occurs in response to a particular
stimulus.
A reflex arc is the pathway followed by nerve
impulses that causes a reflex.
Reflex Arc 2 SENSORY NEURON 1 SENSORY RECEPTOR
(axon conducts impulses from (responds to a stimulus
receptor to integrating center) by producing a generator
or receptor potential)
Interneuron
3 INTEGRATING CENTER
(one or more regions within the CNS
that relay impulses from sensory to 4 MOTOR NEURON 5 EFFECTOR
motor neurons) (axon conducts impulses from (muscle or gland that
integrating center to effector) responds to motor
nerve impulses)
Patellar reflex, showing general components of a reflex arc.
The arrows show the
direction of nerve impulse
conduction.
A reflex is a fast,
involuntary sequence of
actions that occurs in
response to a particular
stimulus.
Physiology of Spinal Reflex
*5 steps involved in reflex arc:
Sensory receptor
Afferent pathway
Integrating center
Efferent pathway
Effector
To brain
Patellar reflex, showing general components of a reflex arc.
1 Stretching stimulates +
SENSORY RECEPTOR 2 SENSORY
NEURON
(muscle spindle) excited
EFFECTOR +
5 (same muscle)
contracts and –
relieves the 4 MOTOR
stretching NEURON
excited
Spinal
Nerve
+ 3 Within INTEGRATING Inhibitory
CENTER (spinal cord),
sensory neuron activates interneuron
motor neuron
Antagonistic
muscles relax
Motor neuron to
antagonistic muscles
is inhibited
Steps involved in reflex arc
1. Sensory receptor
The distal end of a sensory neuron serves as a
sensory receptor.
Sensory receptors respond to a specific type of
stimulus by generating one or more nerve impulses.
In the patellar reflex, sensory receptors known as
muscle spindles detect slight stretching of the
quadriceps femoris (anterior thigh) muscle when the
patellar (knee cap) ligament is tapped with a reflex
hammer.
Steps involved in reflex arc
2. Afferent pathway (sensory neuron)
The nerve impulses conduct from the sensory receptor
along the axon of a sensory neuron to its axon
terminals, which are located in the CNS gray matter.
Axon branches of the sensory neuron also relay nerve
impulses to the brain, allowing conscious awareness
that the reflex has occurred.
Steps involved in reflex arc
3. Integrating center
One or more regions of gray matter in the CNS act as
an integrating center.
In the simplest type of reflex, such as the patellar
reflex, the integrating center is a single synapse
between a sensory neuron and a motor neuron.
In other types of reflexes, the integrating center
includes one or more interneurons.
Steps involved in reflex arc
4. Efferent pathway (motor neuron)
Impulses triggered by the integrating center pass out
of the spinal cord (or brain stem, in the case of a
cranial reflex) along a motor neuron to the part of the
body that will respond.
In the patellar reflex, the axon of the motor neuron
extends to the quadriceps femoris muscle.
Steps involved in reflex arc
5. *Effector
Effector → the part of the body that responds to the
motor nerve impulse (example: muscle & gland)
Its action is a reflex.
Somatic reflex
Effector is skeletal muscle → reflex is a somatic reflex.
Example: the patellar reflex. Effector (quadriceps femoris muscle),
which contracts and thereby relieves the stretching that initiated the
reflex.
Autonomic (visceral) reflex
Effector is smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, or a gland → autonomic
(visceral) reflex.
Example: the acts of swallowing, urinating, and defecating all involve
autonomic reflexes.
Reflexes and Diagnosis
Damage or disease anywhere along a reflex arc
→ absent or abnormal reflex.
Example: absence of the patellar reflex ─ indicate
damage of the sensory or motor neurons, spinal cord
injury (lumbar region).
Most autonomic reflexes, are not practical
diagnostic tools. Difficult to stimulate visceral receptors (deep
inside the body)
Except pupillary light reflex.
Pupils of both eyes decrease in diameter when either eye is
exposed to light ─ absence of a normal pupillary light reflex may
indicate brain damage or injury
References
1. Tortora, G.J. & Derrickson, B. (2011). Essentials of
Anatomy & Physiology. 8th edition Asia. John Wiley
Sons, Inc.
2. Donald, C.R (2010). Fundamentals of Anatomy
Physiology. 3rd edition. Delmar, Cengage Learning.
3. Sherwood, L. (2009). Human Physiology. 7th Edition.
Cengage Learning.
