List of reflexes (alphabetical)
Encyclopedia
A list of reflexes in humans.
- Accommodation reflexAccommodation reflexThe accommodation reflex is a reflex action of the eye, in response to focusing on a near object, then looking at distant object , comprising coordinated changes in vergence, lens shape and pupil size...
— coordinated changes in vergence, lens shape and pupil size when looking at a distant object after a near object.
- Acoustic reflexAcoustic reflexThe acoustic reflex is an involuntary muscle contraction that occurs in the middle ear of mammals in response to high-intensity sound stimuli....
or stapedius reflex or attenuation reflex — contraction of the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles in the middle ear in response to high sound intensities.
- Ankle jerk reflexAnkle jerk reflexThe ankle jerk reflex, also known as the Achilles reflex, occurs when the Achilles tendon is tapped while the foot is dorsi-flexed. A positive result would be the jerking of the foot towards its plantar surface....
— jerking of the ankle when the Achilles tendon is hit with a tendon hammer while the foot is relaxed, stimulating the S1 reflex arc.
- Arthrokinetic reflexArthrokinetic reflexThe terms "arthrokinetic reflex" was coined by medical researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Medical School, department of Physiology, in 1956 to refer to the way in which joint movement can reflexively cause muscle activation or inhibition....
— muscular activation or inhibition in response to joint mobilization
- Asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR) or tonic neck reflex — in infants up to four months of age, when the head is turned to the side, the arm on that side will straighten and the contralateral arm will bend.
- Babinski reflex — in infants up to one year of age, and also in older individuals with neurological damage, a spreading of the toes and extension of the big toe in response to stroking the side of the foot.
- BaroreflexBaroreflexThe baroreflex or baroreceptor reflex is one of the body's homeostatic mechanisms for maintaining blood pressure. It provides a negative feedback loop in which an elevated blood pressure reflexively causes heart rate to decrease therefore causing blood pressure to decrease; likewise, decreased...
or baroreceptor reflex — homeostatic countereffect to a sudden elevation or reduction in blood pressure detected by the baroreceptors in the aortic arch, carotid sinuses, etc.
- Bezold-Jarisch reflexBezold-Jarisch reflexThe Bezold–Jarisch reflex involves a variety of cardiovascular and neurological processes which cause hypopnea and bradycardia .-Physiology:...
- Biceps reflex — a jerking of the forearm when the biceps brachii tendon is struck with a tendon hammer, stimulating the C5 and C6 reflex arcs.
- BlushingBlushingBlushing refers to the involuntary reddening of a person's face due to embarrassment or emotional stress, though it has been known to come from being lovestruck, or from some kind of romantic stimulation. It is thought that blushing is the result of an overactive sympathetic nervous system...
— a reddening of the face caused by embarrassment, shame, or modesty.
- Brachioradialis reflexBrachioradialis reflexThe brachioradialis reflex is observed during a neurological exam by striking the brachioradialis tendon directly with a hammer when the patient's arm is relaxing...
— a jerking of the forearm when the brachioradialis tendon is hit with a tendon hammer while the arm is resting, stimulating the C5 and C6 reflex arcs.
- Churchill cope reflex
- Corneal reflexCorneal reflexThe corneal reflex, also known as the blink reflex, is an involuntary blinking of the eyelids elicited by stimulation of the cornea , or bright light, though could result from any peripheral stimulus. Stimulation should elicit both a direct and consensual response...
— blinking of both eyes when the cornea of either eye is touched.
- Cough reflexCough reflexThe cough reflex has both sensory and motor components. Pulmonary irritant receptors in the epithelium of the respiratory tract are sensitive to both mechanical and chemical stimuli...
— a rapid expulsion of air from the lungs after sudden opening of the glottis, and usually following irritation of the trachea.
- Cremasteric reflexCremasteric reflexThe cremasteric reflex is a superficial reflex observed in human males.This reflex is elicited by lightly stroking the superior and medial part of the thigh...
— elevation of the scrotum and testis elicited by stroking of the superior and medial part of the thigh.
- Crossed extensor reflexCrossed extensor reflexThe crossed extensor reflex is a withdrawal reflex.When the reflex occurs the flexors in the withdrawing limb contract and the extensors relax, while in the other limb, the opposite occurs...
— a contraction of a limb in response to sensation of pain in the contralateral limb.
- Galant reflexGalant reflexGalant reflex is a newborn reflex. It is elicited by holding the newborn in ventral suspension and stroking along the one side of the spine...
— in infants up to four months of age, a rotation of the upper body towards one or other side of the back when that side is stroked.
- Glabellar reflexGlabellar reflexGlabellar reflex is a primitive reflex. It is elicited by repetitive tapping on the forehead. Subjects blink in response to the first several taps...
- Golgi tendon reflexGolgi tendon reflexThe Golgi tendon reflex is a normal component of the reflex arc of the peripheral nervous system. In a Golgi tendon reflex, skeletal muscle contraction causes the muscle to simultaneously lengthen and relax. This reflex is also called the inverse myotatic reflex, because it is the inverse of the...
- Knee jerk or patellar reflex — a kick caused by striking the patellar tendon with a tendon hammer just below the patella, stimulating the L4 and L3 reflex arcs.
- Mammalian diving reflexMammalian diving reflexThe mammalian diving reflex is a reflex in mammals which optimizes respiration to allow staying underwater for extended periods of time. It is exhibited strongly in aquatic mammals , but exists in a weaker version in other mammals, including humans. Diving birds, such as penguins, have a similar...
- Moro reflexMoro reflexThe Moro reflex, which is distinct from the startle reflex, is one of the infantile reflexes.It may be observed in incomplete form in premature birth after the 28th week of gestation, and is usually present in complete form by week 34...
— only in all infants/newborns up to 4 or 5 months of age: a sudden symmetric spreading of the arms, then unspreading and crying, caused by an unexpected loud noise or the sensation of being dropped. It is the only unlearned fear in humans.
- Palmar grasp reflex — in infants up to six months of age, a closing of the hand in response to an object being placed in it.
- Photic sneeze reflexPhotic sneeze reflexThe photic sneeze reflex is a condition of uncontrollable sneezing in response to numerous stimuli, such as looking at bright lights or periocular injection...
— a sneeze caused by sudden exposure to bright light.
- Plantar reflexPlantar reflexThe plantar reflex is a reflex elicited when the sole of the foot is stimulated with a blunt instrument. The reflex can take one of two forms. In normal adults the plantar reflex causes a downward response of the hallux...
— in infants up to 1 year of age, a curling of the toes when something rubs the ball of the foot.
- Pupillary accommodation reflex — a reduction of pupil size in response to an object coming close to the eye.
- Pupillary light reflex — a reduction of pupil size in response to light.
- Rooting reflex — turning of an infant's head toward anything that strokes the cheek or mouth.
- ShiveringShiveringShivering is a bodily function in response to early hypothermia in warm-blooded animals. When the core body temperature drops, the shivering reflex is triggered to maintain homeostasis. Muscle groups around the vital organs begin to shake in small movements in an attempt to create warmth by...
— shaking of the body in response to early hypothermia in warm-blooded animals.
- SneezeSneezeA sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa...
or sternutation — a convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs normally triggered by irritation of the nasal mucosa in the nose.
- Startle reflex — see Moro reflexMoro reflexThe Moro reflex, which is distinct from the startle reflex, is one of the infantile reflexes.It may be observed in incomplete form in premature birth after the 28th week of gestation, and is usually present in complete form by week 34...
above.
- Sternutation — see SneezeSneezeA sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa...
above.
- Suckling reflex — sucking at anything that touches the roof of an infant's mouth.
- Stretch reflexStretch reflexThe stretch reflex is a muscle contraction in response to stretching within the muscle. It is a monosynaptic reflex which provides automatic regulation of skeletal muscle length....
- Triceps reflexTriceps reflexThe triceps reflex, a deep tendon reflex, is a reflex as it elicits involuntary contraction of the triceps brachii muscle. It is initiated by the Cervical spinal nerve 7 nerve root...
— jerking of the forearm when the triceps tendon is hit with a tendon hammer, stimulating the C7 and C6 reflex arcs.
- Vagovagal reflexVagovagal reflexVagovagal reflex refers to gastrointestinal tract reflex circuits where afferent and efferent fibers of the vagus nerve coordinate responses to gut stimuli via the dorsal vagal complex in the brain. The vagovagal reflex controls contraction of the gastrointestinal muscle layers in response to...
— contraction of muscles in the gastrointestinal tract in response to distension of the tract following consumption of food and drink.
- Vestibulo-ocular reflexVestibulo-ocular reflexThe vestibulo-ocular reflex is a reflex eye movement that stabilizes images on the retina during head movement by producing an eye movement in the direction opposite to head movement, thus preserving the image on the center of the visual field. For example, when the head moves to the right, the...
— movement of the eyes to the right when the head is rotated to the left, and vice versa.