3.5.9

Reflex Arc

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Components of a Reflex Arc

The different parts of a reflex arc are:

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Stimulus

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

  • 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.
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Effector

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

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

Jump to other topics

1The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3Organism Functions

3.1Respiration

3.2Gas Exchange

3.3Transport

3.4Excretion

3.5Coordination & Response

4Reproduction & Inheritance

5Ecology

6Biological Resources

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