MLSHAPPL: Reflexes and Cranial Nerves

• Reflexes


  Rapid, predictable, involuntary responses of the muscle to a stimuli
• Steps for a reflex to occur

  1. Receptor

  2. Sensory/Afferent neuron

  3. Integration Center

  4. Motor/ Efferent Neuron

  5. Effector
• Somatic Reflexes


  • Reflexes that stimulate the skeletal muscles
• Autonomic Reflexes


  • Reflexes that stimulate the smooth muscles
  • Pupillary light reflex
  • Accommodation reflex
• Stretch Reflex

  • contraction of muscle in response to its passive stretching
  • Patellar
  • Achilles Tendon
  • Biceps
  • Triceps
  • Brachioradialis
• Superficial reflex


  • Aka cutaneous reflex, generated by stimulating the receptor in the skin
  • Plantar
  • Abdominal
  • Epigastric
  • Cremasteric
  • Pupillary
• Cranial Nerves Reflex


  • Sending signals between your brain, face, neck and torso
  • Gag reflex
  • Corneal reflex
  • Swallowing
• Neurological Hammer


  Material used to test the reflex, made up of rubber
• Cranial Nerves


  I - Olfactory - smell

  II - Optic - sight

  III - Oculomotor - pupil and eye movement

  IV - Trochlear - eye movement

  V - Trigeminal - face sensation

  VI - Abducens - eye abduction

  VII - Facial - face movement and salivate

  VIII - Vestibulocochlear - hearing and balance

  IX - Glossopharyngeal - taste and swallow, gag reflex

  X - Vagus - cardiac innervation, speech and swallowing

  XI - Accessory - throat, neck, and upper back muscles

  XII - Hypoglossal - tongue movement