reflectoryadj.
/rᵻˈflɛkt(ə)ri/, U.S. /rəˈflɛkt(ə)ri/, /riˈflɛkt(ə)ri/ 1. Physiology. Designating or relating to an action or condition caused by an automatic response to a stimulus. Cf. reflex adj. 3.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > stimulation > [adjective] > responsive to stimulus
reflectory1864
reactive1894
1864 Brit. & Foreign Medico-chirurg. Rev. 33 4 Cells may be arranged..as organs which communicate and modify this irritation in its passage from one fibre to another (reflectory or sympathetic cells).
1884 Lancet 12 July 55/2 I..found that he had Argyll-Robertson's symptom of reflectory rigidity of the pupils.
1942 Amer. Jrnl. Surg. 56 609/2 An attempt at reduction without anesthesia met with failure due to pain and reflectory muscle spasm.
1976 Jrnl. Human Evol. 5 357 The..reflectory deep inspiration..is more likely to result in water inhalation in man than in other species due to his peculiar anatomy.
2006 S. Rittig in R. Hogg Kidney Disorders in Children 163/2 The giggling..triggers a reflectory relaxation of the urethral sphincter, which then starts a bladder contraction.
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1890 Cent. Dict. Reflectory, capable of being reflected.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1864