Is the patellar reflex an extensor or flexor reflex?
– polysynaptic reflex. – A tap on the patellar tendon stretches the extensor muscle and its spindles. – The spindle discharges and excites the associated sensory fibers that excite the motor neurons to the extensor muscle. – Contraction of the extensor muscle extends the lower leg (knee – jerk).
What is flexor and crossed extensor reflex?
The crossed extensor reflex is a withdrawal reflex. The reflex occurs when the flexors in the withdrawing limb contract and the extensors relax, while in the other limb, the opposite occurs. The crossed extensor reflex is contralateral, meaning the reflex occurs on the opposite side of the body from the stimulus.
What type of reflex is patellar reflex?
monosynaptic reflex arc
The patellar reflex is a clinical and classic example of the monosynaptic reflex arc. There is no interneuron in the pathway leading to contraction of the quadriceps muscle. Instead, the sensory neuron synapses directly on a motor neuron in the spinal cord.
What are the components of the patellar reflex arc?
The reflex arc consists of 5 components:
- sensory receptor.
- sensory neuron.
- integration center.
- motor neuron.
- effector target.
What is reflex arc explain with diagram?
A reflex arc is a simple nervous pathway which is responsible for the sudden reaction known as the reflex action. The afferent/sensory neurons are present in the receptor organ which receive the stimulus. The neuron transmits the sensory information from receptor organ to the spinal cord.
What is flexor extensor reflex?
The flexor and extensor reflexes are only two examples of the sequential ordering of muscular contraction and relaxation. Underlying this basic organization is the principle of reciprocal innervation—the contraction of one muscle or group of muscles with the relaxation of muscles that have the opposite function.
What is the purpose of the patellar tendon reflex?
A stretch reflex is a type of muscle reflex, which protects muscle against increases in length that can tear and damage muscle fibers. The primary purpose of the patellar reflex – the stretch reflex of the quadriceps femoris muscle – is to prevent excessive stretching of the quadriceps.
What is a spinal reflex arc?
A reflex arc is a neural pathway that controls a reflex. In vertebrates, most sensory neurons do not pass directly into the brain, but synapse in the spinal cord. This allows for faster reflex actions to occur by activating spinal motor neurons without the delay of routing signals through the brain.