This deep dive covers The Reflex Arc Pathway within Reflex Arc for GCSE Biology. Topic 3: Reflex Arc It is section 3 of 14 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 14
Practice
15 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
The Reflex Arc Pathway
The reflex arc pathway is the sequence of events that occurs when a stimulus triggers a reflex. It consists of:
- Sensory receptors: These are specialized cells that detect changes in the environment, such as pain or pressure.
- Nerve pathways: The signal from the sensory receptor travels along a nerve pathway to the spinal cord or brain.
- Reflex center: In the spinal cord or brain, the signal is processed and an appropriate response is generated.
- Efferent nerves: The response signal is sent back out through efferent nerves to the effector muscles.
- Effector muscles: These are the muscles that contract or relax in response to the stimulus, resulting in a reflex action.