reflex arc

n. Physiology The neural path of a reflex.

reflex arc

n (Physiology) physiol the neural pathway over which impulses travel to produce a reflex action, consisting of at least one afferent (receptor) and one efferent (effector) neuron

re′flex arc`

n. the nerve pathways followed by an impulse during a reflex. [1880–85]

Thesaurus

Noun

reflex arc - the neural path of a reflex neural structure - a structure that is part of the nervous system

Reflex Arc

reflex arc

[′rē‚fleks ‚ärk] (neuroscience) A chain of neurons composing the anatomical substrate or pathway of the unconditioned reflex.

Reflex Arc

a group of nerve structures involved in reflex action. The term “reflex arc,” or “nervous arc,” was introduced in 1850 by the British physician and physiologist M. Hall, who was describing the anatomic elements of a reflex.

A reflex arc includes (1) receptors, or nerve endings that respond to stimulation; (2) afferent (centripetal) nerve fibers, or the processes of receptor neurons that transmit impulses from sensory nerve endings to the central nervous system; (3) a nerve center, that is, neurons that sense excitation and transmit it to effector neurons through the appropriate synapses; (4) efferent (centrifugal) nerve fibers that transmit excitation from the central nervous system to the periphery; and (5) an effector organ whose activity changes as a result of a reflex.

The simplest two-neuron, or monosynaptic, reflex arc consists of receptor and effector neurons separated by a synapse. A multineuron, or polysynaptic, reflex arc consists of a receptor neuron, several internuncial neurons, and an effector neuron, all of which are separated by synapses. A reflex arc does not completely reflect the structure of a reflex because of the proven existence of reverse afference, that is, excitation that informs a nerve center about the condition of an effector organ.

V. G. ZILOV

reflex arc

arc

[ahrk] a part of the circumference of a circle, or a regularly curved line.binauricular arc the arc across the top of the head from one auricular point to the other.reflex arc the circuit traveled by impulses producing a reflex action: receptor organ, afferent nerve, nerve center, efferent nerve, effector organ in a muscle; see also reflex.

Three-neuron reflex arc. From Dorland's, 2000.

re·flex arc

1. the route followed by nerve impulses in the production of a reflex act, from the peripheral receptor organ through the afferent nerve to the central nervous system synapse and then through the efferent nerve to the effector organ. 2. a neural pathway that involes both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

reflex arc

n. Physiology The neural path of a reflex.

reflex arc

Neurology The basic conduction pathway through the nervous system, consisting of a sensory neuron, an association neuron, and a motor neuron

re·flex arc

(rē'fleks ahrk) The route followed by nerve impulses in the production of a reflex act, from the peripheral receptor organ through the afferent nerve to the central nervous system synapse and then through the efferent nerve to the effector organ.

REFLEX ARC FOR PATELLAR TENDON REFLEX

reflex arc

The path followed by a nerve impulse to produce a reflex action. The impulse originates in a receptor at the point of stimulation, passes through an afferent neuron or neurons to a reflex center in the brain or spinal cord, and from the center out through efferent neurons to the effector organ, where the response occurs. See: illustrationSee also: arc

Fig. 267 Reflex arc . The arrows indicate the direction of impulse from receptor to effector.

reflex arc

the nervous connections between RECEPTOR and EFFECTOR that result in a simple response being elicited by a specific stimulus (a reflex action), such as a knee jerk without the involvement of the brain. The receptor is excited by a stimulus which induces a nerve impulse in the DENDRITE of a sensory (afferent) NEURONE. This passes through the cell body in the dorsal root ganglion and on along the sensory AXON to the SPINAL CORD. There it crosses a SYNAPSE, usually to an intermediate neurone which synapses with the efferent neurone and passes out of the spinal cord via the ventral root along the axon of the motor (efferent) neurone to the effector which produces the stereotyped response. Most reflexes involve more than one synapse, i.e. are polysynaptic, but those concerned with posture are often monosynaptic, such as the knee-jerk reflex. See Fig. 267 . see RAMUS COMMUNICANS.

re·flex arc

(rē'fleks ahrk) 1. Route followed by nerve impulses in production of a reflex act, from peripheral receptor organ through afferent nerve to central nervous system synapse and then through efferent nerve to effector organ. 2. Neural pathway that involes both peripheral and central nervous systems.

reflex arc

reflex arc

reflex arc

re′flex arc`

Reflex Arc

reflex arc

Reflex Arc

reflex arc

arc

re·flex arc

reflex arc

reflex arc

re·flex arc

reflex arc

reflex arc

re·flex arc

reflex arc

Words related to reflex arc

noun the neural path of a reflex

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