startle reflex

reflex

[re´fleks] a reflected action or movement; the sum total of any particular automatic response mediated by the nervous system. A reflex is built into the nervous system and does not need the intervention of conscious thought to take effect.

The knee jerk is an example of the simplest type of reflex. When the knee is tapped, the nerve that receives this stimulus sends an impulse to the spinal cord, where it is relayed to a motor nerve. This causes the quadriceps muscle at the front of the thigh to contract and jerk the leg up. This reflex, or simple reflex arc, involves only two nerves and one synapse. The leg begins to jerk up while the brain is just becoming aware of the tap.
Other simple reflexes, the stretch reflexes, help the body maintain its balance. Every time a muscle is stretched, it reacts with a reflex impulse to contract. As a person reaches or leans, the skeletal muscles tense and tighten, tending to hold him and keep him from falling. Even in standing still, the stretch reflexes in the skeletal muscles make many tiny adjustments to keep the body erect.
The “hot stove” reflex is more complex, calling into play many different muscles. Before the hand is pulled away, an impulse must go from the sensory nerve endings in the skin to a center in the spinal cord, from there to a motor center, and then out along the motor nerves to shoulder, arm, and hand muscles. Trunk and leg muscles respond to support the body in its sudden change of position, and the head and eyes turn to look at the cause of the injury. All this happens while the person is becoming aware of the burning sensation. A reflex that protects the body from injury, as this one does, is called a nociceptive reflex. Sneezing, coughing, and gagging are similar reflexes in response to foreign bodies in the nose and throat, and the wink reflex helps protect the eyes from injury.
A conditioned reflex is one acquired as the result of experience. When an action is done repeatedly the nervous system becomes familiar with the situation and learns to react automatically, and a new reflex is built into the system. Walking, running, and typewriting are examples of activities that require large numbers of complex muscle coordinations that have become automatic.

Nerve pathway of a simple reflex. When the sensory nerve ending is stimulated, a nerve impulse travels along a sensory (afferent) neuron to the spinal cord. Here an association neuron transfers the impulse to a motor (efferent) neuron. The motor neuron carries the impulse to a muscle, which contracts and moves a body part.abdominal r's contractions of the abdominal muscles about the navel on stimulating the abdominal skin. It indicates that the spinal cord from the eighth to the twelfth thoracic nerve is intact.accelerator reflex an increase in heart rate in response to changes in intrathoracic pressure or respiratory rate; see also reflex" >Bainbridge reflex and reflex" >cardiac respiratory reflex.accommodation reflex the coordinated changes that occur when the eye adapts itself for near vision; they are constriction of the pupil, convergence of the eyes, and increased convexity of the lens.Achilles reflex ankle jerk.acoustic reflex contraction of the stapedius muscle in response to intense sound.anal reflex contraction of the anal sphincter on irritation of the anal skin.ankle reflex Achilles reflex.auditory reflex any reflex caused by stimulation of the vestibulocochlear nerve; especially momentary closure of both eyes produced by a sudden sound.Babinski reflex see babinski reflex.Babkin reflex see babkin reflex.Bainbridge reflex a rise in pressure in, or increased distension of, the large somatic veins or the right atrium causes acceleration of the heart beat. Called also Bainbridge effect.baroreceptor reflex the reflex responses to stimulation of baroreceptors of the carotid sinus and aortic arch, regulating blood pressure by controlling heart rate, strength of heart contractions, and diameter of blood vessels.biceps reflex contraction of the biceps muscle when its tendon is tapped.bite reflex strong closure of the jaws when the teeth or gums are stimulated.Brain's reflex extension of a hemiplegic flexed upper limb when a person is in a quadrupedal posture; called also quadrupedal extensor reflex.bulbocavernosus reflex (bulbospongiosus reflex) contraction of the bulbocavernous muscle in response to a tap on the dorsum of the penis; called also penile reflex.cardiac respiratory reflex an increase in heart rate caused by an increase in respiratory rate that reduces venous return.carotid sinus reflex slowing of the heartbeat when pressure is applied to the carotid artery at the level of the cricoid cartilage. See also carotid sinus syndrome.Chaddock's reflex in lesions of the pyramidal tract, stimulation below the external malleolus causes extension of the great toe; called also Chaddock's sign.chain reflex a series of reflexes, each serving as a stimulus to the next, making a complete activity.ciliary reflex the movement of the pupil in accommodation.ciliospinal reflex dilation of the ipsilateral pupil on painful stimulation of the skin at the side of the neck.clasp-knife reflex clasp-knife rigidity.conditioned reflex conditioned response" >conditioned response.conjunctival reflex closure of the eyelid when the conjunctiva is touched.corneal reflex see corneal reflex.cough reflex the sequence of events initiated by the sensitivity of the lining of the airways and mediated by the medulla as a consequence of impulses transmitted by the vagus nerve, resulting in coughing, i.e., the clearing of the passageways of foreign matter.cremasteric reflex contraction of the ipsilateral cremaster muscle, drawing the testis upward, when the upper inner aspect of the thigh is stroked longitudinally.deep reflex one elicited by a sharp tap on the appropriate tendon or muscle to induce brief stretch of the muscle.digital reflex Hoffmann's sign (def. 2).doll's eye reflex doll's eye phenomenon.embrace reflex Moro reflex.gag reflex elevation of the soft palate and retching which is elicited by touching the back of the tongue or the wall of the pharynx; called also pharyngeal reflex.

Areas that react in a gag reflex when touched.gastrocolic reflex increase in intestinal peristalsis after food enters the empty stomach.gastroileal reflex increase in ileal motility and opening of the ileocecal valve when food enters the empty stomach.grasp reflex flexion or clenching of the fingers or toes on stimulation of the palm of the hand or sole of the foot.Hering-Breuer r's see hering-breuer reflexes.Hoffmann's reflex Hoffmann's sign (def. 2).jaw reflex (jaw-jerk reflex) closure of the mouth caused by a downward blow on the passively hanging chin; rarely seen in health but very noticeable in corticospinal tract lesions.knee reflex knee jerk.light reflex 1. constriction of the pupil when a light is shone into the same (direct light reflex) or the opposite eye (indirect or consensual light reflex).2. a luminous image reflected when light strikes the normal tympanic membrane.lung r's Hering-Breuer reflexes.Magnus and de Kleijn neck r's extension of both limbs on the same side, or one limb or part of a limb, with increase of tonus on the side to which the chin is turned when the head is rotated, and flexion with loss of tonus on the side to which the occiput points; it usually indicates decerebrate rigidity" >decerebrate rigidity.Mayer's reflex opposition and adduction of the thumb combined with flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joint and extension at the interphalangeal joint, on downward pressure of the index finger.Mendel-Bekhterev reflex dorsal flexion of the second to fifth toes on percussion of the dorsum of the foot; in certain organic nervous disorders, plantar flexion occurs.micturition reflex any of the reflexes necessary for effortless urination and subconscious maintenance of continence.Moro reflex see moro reflex.myotatic reflex stretch reflex.neck righting reflex rotation of the trunk in the direction in which the head of the supine infant is turned; this reflex is absent or decreased in infants with spasticity.nociceptive r's reflexes initiated by painful stimuli; see also nociceptor and pain.oculocephalic reflex doll's eye phenomenon.orbicularis pupillary reflex unilateral contraction of the pupil, followed by dilatation after closure or attempted closure of eyelids that are forcibly held apart.palatal reflex (palatine reflex) stimulation of the palate causes swallowing. Called also swallowing reflex.paradoxical pupillary reflex reversed pupillary reflex.patellar reflex knee jerk.penile reflex bulbocavernosus reflex.pharyngeal reflex gag reflex.pilomotor reflex the production of flesh" >goose flesh on stroking of the skin.placing reflex flexion followed by extension of the leg when the infant is held erect and the dorsum of the foot is drawn along the under edge of a table top; it is obtainable in the normal infant up to the age of six weeks.plantar reflex plantar flexion of the foot when the ankle is grasped firmly and the lateral border of the sole is stroked or scratched from the heel toward the toes.proprioceptive reflex a reflex that is initiated by stimuli arising from some function of the reflex mechanism itself.psychogalvanic reflex decreased electrical resistance of the body due to emotional or mental agitation.pupillary reflex 1. contraction of the pupil on exposure of the retina to light.2. any reflex involving the iris, resulting in change in the size of the pupil, occurring in response to various stimuli, e.g., change in illumination or point of fixation, sudden loud noise, or emotional stimulation.quadriceps reflex knee jerk.quadrupedal extensor reflex Brain's reflex.red reflex a luminous red appearance seen upon the retina in retinoscopy.reversed pupillary reflex any abnormal pupillary reflex opposite of that which occurs normally; e.g., stimulation of the retina by light dilates the pupil. Called also paradoxical pupillary reflex.righting reflex the ability to assume an optimal position when there has been a departure from it.rooting reflex a reflex in the newborn in which stimulation of the side of the cheek or upper or lower lip causes the infant to turn the mouth and face to the stimulus.Rossolimo's reflex in pyramidal tract lesions, plantar flexion of the toes on tapping their plantar surface.spinal reflex any reflex action mediated through a center of the spinal cord.startle reflex Moro reflex.stepping reflex movements of progression elicited when the infant is held upright and inclined forward with the soles of the feet touching a flat surface; it is obtainable in the normal infant up to the age of six weeks.stretch reflex reflex contraction of a muscle in response to passive longitudinal stretching.sucking reflex sucking movements of the lips of an infant elicited by touching the lips or the skin near the mouth.suck-swallow reflex rhythmical sucking and swallowing movements in an infant when a finger or nipple is placed in the mouth.superficial reflex any withdrawal reflex elicited by noxious or tactile stimulation of the skin, cornea, or mucous membrane, including the corneal, pharyngeal, and cremasteric reflexes.swallowing reflex palatal reflex.tendon reflex contraction of a muscle caused by percussion of its tendon.tonic neck reflex extension of the upper limb and sometimes the lower limb on the side to which the head is forcibly turned, with flexion of the contralateral limbs; seen normally in the newborn. If it persists into the second or third year of life, it indicates a neurologic disorder.triceps reflex contraction of the belly of the triceps muscle and slight extension of the upper limb when the tendon of the muscle is tapped directly, with the limb flexed and fully supported and relaxed.triceps surae reflex Achilles reflex.vestibular r's the reflexes for maintaining the position of the eyes and body in relation to changes in orientation of the head.vestibulo-ocular reflex nystagmus or deviation of the eyes in response to stimulation of the vestibular system by angular acceleration or deceleration or when the caloric test is performed.vomiting reflex the reflex for vomiting" >vomiting, caused by reflexive stimulation of muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and throat; it is mediated by centers in the medulla oblongata and can be set in motion by a variety of stimuli. See also gag reflex.

star·tle re·flex

a primitive reflex response observed in the normal newborn but typically suppressed by 3-4 months of age. Any sudden stimulus (for example, a loud noise, a blow to the supporting surface, or being dropped 5-10 cm through space) causes flexion of the hip and knee joints with fanning of the fingers followed by fist clenching and extension of the upper limbs followed by flexion. Synonym(s): Moro reflex, parachute reflex, startle reaction
See also: cochleopalpebral reflex.

startle reflex

(stär′tl)n.1. The reflex response of an infant in which the limb and neck muscles contract when the infant is allowed to drop a short distance or is startled by a sudden noise or jolt.2. See cochleopalpebral reflex.

star·tle re·flex

(stahr'tĕl rē'fleks) 1. The reflex response of an infant (contraction of the limb and neck muscles) when allowed to drop a short distance through the air or startled by a sudden noise or jolt.
Synonym(s): parachute reflex. 2. Synonym(s): cochleopalpebral reflex.

Moro,

Ernst, German physician, 1874-1951. Moro reflex - the reflex response of an infant when allowed to drop a short distance through the air or startled by a sudden noise or jolt. Synonym(s): startle reflex

startle reflex

startle reflex

reflex

star·tle re·flex

startle reflex

star·tle re·flex

Moro,

startle reflex

Synonyms for startle reflex

noun a normal reflex of young infants

Synonyms

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