5.2.5

Components of a Reflex Arc

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Components of a Reflex Arc

The different parts of a reflex arc are:

Stimulus

Stimulus

  • A stimulus can be any change in the environment to which the body needs to respond.
  • The stimulus is detected by a receptor.
Receptor

Receptor

  • Receptors are found all over the body.
  • They detect the change in the environment and initiate (start) a signalling process within the body.
  • The signal is picked up by a neurone (nerve cell).
Neurones

Neurones

  • There are three types of neurone (nerve cell):
    • The sensory neurone, which carries the signal in the form of an electrical impulse to the central nervous system (CNS).
    • The relay neurone (in the CNS) relays the electrical impulse from the sensory neurone to the appropriate motor neurone.
    • The motor neurone is another type of nerve cell that carries the electrical impulse from the CNS to an effector.
Effector

Effector

  • An effector is a muscle or gland that brings about an action in response to the change in the internal or external environment.
Response

Response

  • The response can be any action that helps the organism to avoid the harmful situation.
Jump to other topics
1

Cell Biology

1.1

What's in Cells?

1.2

Cell Division

1.3

Transport in Cells

2

Organisation

2.1

Principles of Organisation

2.2

Enzymes

2.3

Circulatory System

2.4

Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5

Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3

Infection & Response

4

Bioenergetics

5

Homeostasis & Response

5.1

Homeostasis

5.2

The Human Nervous System

5.3

Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4

Plant Hormones

6

Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

6.1

Reproduction

6.2

Variation & Evolution

6.3

Genetics & Evolution

6.4

Classification

7

Ecology

7.1

Adaptations & Interdependence

7.2

Organisation of Ecosystems

7.3

Biodiversity

7.4

Trophic Levels

7.5

Food Production

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