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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Nervous and Endocrine Systems

Reflex

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈriːfleks/nounCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, reflex means: A fast, automatic response to a stimulus that does not need conscious thought, such as pulling your hand away from something hot. Many simple reflexes are handled by the spinal cord.

In Turkish: refleks

How it is used

Students learn the reflex arc: receptor, sensory neuron, integration center, motor neuron and effector. In a clinical exam, doctors test deep tendon reflexes such as the knee jerk and describe them as absent, reduced, normal or brisk.

Example sentences

  1. The knee-jerk reflex involves only two neurons and one synapse in the spinal cord.

  2. Reflexes were normal and equal on both sides.

Common collocations

  • reflex arc
  • knee-jerk reflex
  • tendon reflex
  • withdrawal reflex
  • brisk reflexes
  • spinal cordThe long bundle of nerve tissue that runs down from the brain inside the vertebral column. It carries signals between the brain and the body and controls simple reflexes.
  • neuronA nerve cell: the basic unit of the nervous system that sends and receives electrical and chemical signals. It has a cell body, dendrites that receive signals and an axon that passes them on.
  • tendonA strong cord of fibrous tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone, so that when the muscle contracts it pulls on the bone.
  • nervous systemThe network of the brain, spinal cord and nerves that receives information, processes it and controls the body's responses by sending electrical signals.

More terms: Nervous and Endocrine Systems

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.