Reflex Actions
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 14.1.2
Reflex Actions
Reflex actions allow us to respond to dangerous situations rapidly and automatically by integrating and coordinating stimuli with the responses of effectors. Reflex actions do not involve conscious thought (i.e. they are involuntary actions). Some examples are:
Blinking
Sneezing
Dropping hot objects
The knee-jerk response
- This is initiated by tapping a specific spot just beneath your patella.
- If you strike the right spot, the response will occur whether you are willing or not.
Test yourself on Reflex Actions
Which of the following is NOT an example of a reflex action?
How does the central nervous system respond to stimuli?
Why are reflex actions important?