Reflex action is a type of behavior that is not consciously controlled by the brain, but rather, it is mediated by the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Reflex action is an essential survival mechanism that allows an organism to respond quickly to potentially harmful stimuli. Reflex Action is a kind of quick response made by our body to a stimulus, involuntarily and without any conscious thought. A reflex arc is a pathway that a nerve impulse follows during a reflex action. Reflex arcs are highly beneficial in situations that require a quick response and do not involve conscious thought. A typical example of a reflex action is the patellar reflex (‘knee jerk’ response), which occurs when the patellar tendon is tapped. Overview Do you know that you perform some actions without even thinking. Ever thought why do we blink when someone brushes his hands off our face? When our hands touch anything hot, the hands automatically moves away from the hot pan immediately. These are all the examples of reflex actions. Reflex actions are the involuntary movement of a body part as a result of a particular stimulus. These actions are involuntary as neither any will or consciousness is required to access. Probably the ...
