Reflexes Essay

Reflexes are involuntary and nearly instantaneous movements in response to a stimulus or trigger. In humans, there are different types of reflexes. These are stretch reflexes, cranial nerve reflexes, primitive reflexes, and cranial nervous system reflexes. Stretch reflexes, which are often called deep tendon reflexes, provide information on the integrity of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Generally, decreased reflexes indicate a peripheral problem, while lively or exaggerated reflexes indicate a central problem. Some of these reflexes include the Jaw jerk reflex, the Biceps reflex, the Brachioradialis reflex, the Extensor digitorum reflex, the Triceps reflex, the Patellar reflex or knee-jerk reflex, and the Ankle jerk reflex or Achilles reflex. Cranial nerve reflexes protect certain sensory nerves from being damaged. These reflexes include the Pupillary light reflex, the Accommodation reflex, the Jaw jerk reflex, the Corneal reflex which is also known as the blink reflex, the Vestibulo-ocular reflex, and the Gag reflex. Cranial nervous system reflexes, which are more complex, require a large number of synapses in a number of different nuclei in the Central Nervous System. Others of these involve just a couple of synapses to function, such as the withdrawal reflex. Primitive reflexes, which are seen in Newborn babies, are not seen in grown human adults. These automatic reactions to certain triggers enable infants to respond to the environment before any learning has taken place, thus protecting them. These reflexes include the Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, the Hand-to-mouth reflex, the Moro reflex or the startle reflex, the Palmar grasp reflex, the Rooting reflex, the Sucking reflex, the Symmetrical tonic neck reflex, and the Tonic labyrinthine reflex. In conclusion, the reflexes of the body are a means of protecting important parts of it. For example, the ankle jerk reflexes prevents the body from tearing