This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Piedras grandes (talk | contribs) at 18:37, 17 January 2006 (relocate stub). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 18:37, 17 January 2006 by Piedras grandes (talk | contribs) (relocate stub)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A reflex arc is the neural pathway mediating a reflex. It generally does not involve the brain. Instead of the brain it can include a spinal reflex integration center composed of interneurons to connect affector and effector signals. While the reflex generation may be initiated by nociceptive input, an extensive processing takes place within the spinal cord. The neural connection from the primary sensory neurons to the motor neurons is a poly-synaptic pathway (Andersen).
A stimulus follows the following path through the reflex arc:
Stimulus (ex.a light) -----> Sensory neuron (photoreceptors in the eyes for light) -----> Interneuron (connects neurons) ----> Motor neuron (causes pupil to dilate)
A reflex to a stimulus is almost simultaneous, as the reflex arc doesn't involve the brain at all.
See also
External links
| File:Cat brain NASA.jpg | This neuroscience article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
