Reflex Action

Introduction 

Have you ever thought about why we perform certain actions without any command? Such as blinking of the eyes when someone brushes their hand or feeling the pain if we touch something hot. This happens because of the reflex action. Reflex action is a biological term that holds utmost importance in everyone’s life; hence it is important to have a thorough understanding of all concepts related to the same. 

This article includes everything about reflex action, types of reflex action, examples of reflex actions and other topics related to the same. 

Reflex Action

Reflex action can be defined as the instantaneous and involuntary actions that a human body takes due to some stimulus. This happens because of several neural nerves that are spread throughout the body. These nerves are termed the reflex arc because there is impulse action when you touch the hot pan before the message reaches the brain. Since it is an involuntary response, it doesn’t need any conscious thought. 

The best-known example of reflex action would probably be the contraction of the pupil in both eyes. Every time the light flashes your eyes, why do your eyes contract? It is a reflex action. Since light is termed as the stimulus, impulses travel to the brain through the nerves, and the response is automatically conveyed. The reflexes present in our body helps to protect several body parts. 

Types of Reflex Action

There are several types of reflex actions that you might come across in a lifetime without even putting much thought into them. Some of the most common types of reflex actions are as follows-

• Accommodation reflex

Accommodation reflex is one of the most common eye reflexes that helps lens, pupil, and vergence to make changes in the shape of the eye for the accommodation of light. This change in the shape of the eye occurs because of the presence of ciliary muscles in the eyes.

• Pupillary light reflex

Pupillary light reflex is a type of reflex action in which if the light is passed through one eye, the pupils of both eyes tend to contract in a similar way. Here, light is termed as the stimulus; the impulse tends to reach the brain through the topic nerve, whereas pupillary musculature gets the response by several autonomic nerves that supply the eye. The reflexes present in our body helps to protect several body parts. , 

• Acoustic Reflex

Acoustic reflex might ring a bell in your ears as it is related to the tensor tympani and stapedius muscle contraction. These muscles are located in the middle of the ear. 

• Ankle jerk reflex

The ankle jerk is a well-known reflex action performed by doctors to analyze the reflex. It helps maintain the proper posture and the balance of a person that promotes maintenance of balance with frim consciousness and little effort. One way to test the ankle jerk is by tempering it lightly with a hammer. If the reflex is not present, it directs towards peripheral nerve disease or receptor damage. 

• Biceps reflex

Another type of reflex action is the biceps reflex. It occurs when the biceps brachii tendon gets stuck due to the jerking of the forearms. These are used for the detection of reduced reflexes. In this type, the Absent reflexes help locate the clues for the existing neurological disorders. 

• Blushing

As you might have already guessed, blushing can be defined as the reddening of the face for several reasons, such as modesty, shame, or embarrassment. It can be caused due to several psychological reasons. 

• Corneal reflex 

When the cornea of one of the eyes is touched, it tends to blink, and this is termed corneal reflex. Some of the reasons it occurs can be when foreign or dust particles accidentally enter the eyes. In case one uses the contact lens, this condition can be avoided. 

• Cough reflex

Every time the dust makes its place into your respiratory tract or trachea, a cough is produced by the cough receptors, whose main purpose is to remove the dust particles before it travels to the lungs. 

• Sneeze

Sneeze is the last type of reflex action caused by the dust particles entering the nostrils and leading to Irritation of nasal mucosa. In this case, the nose creates a sneeze. 

Examples of reflex action

Some of the common examples of the reflex action in humans are listed below- 

• Rooting reflex in infants
• Blinking or closing eyes wherever the light hits your eyes 
• Sudden action that occurs if you touch something hot 
• Sneezing and coughing due to the presence of dusk or foreign particles in the nasal passage
• In case the insects come in contact, it leads to eye blinking 
• Batting of eyelids quite frequently
•  Sucking reflex in infants 
• Ankle jerk reflex

Conclusion 

Now, when you have understood everything about the Reflex action, the definition of Reflex action, Reflex action examples, and other important topics related to the same, you might have also understood the complexities involved.