VPB 121: Veterinary Physiology - II (2+1)

CLASSIFICATION OF REFLEX ARCS

Components of reflex arc

• The neural circuit for reflex is referred to as reflex arc. Five components commonly make up a reflex arc. They are the receptor organ, sensory (afferent) neurons, interneurons in spinal cord or brain, motor neurons (efferent) and an effector organ (muscle or glands).

Classification of reflex arcs

• Neurons may combine to give at least five types of reflex arcs.

Monosynaptic reflex arc 

• There is a single synapse between sensory and motor neurons of the spinal cord (without interneuron) e.g Myotatic reflex

Polysynaptic arcs