Reflex arcs

Reflex arcs

Reflex actions take place to stop you damaging your body by mistake, in order to prevent or minimise damage, e.g. moving your hand away from a flame when pain and heat receptors sense burning.
Reflex actions are automatic and rapid as they go through relay neurones in the spinal cord and do not involve the conscious part of the brain, meaning time is not taken sending the information there.
Reflex responses also occur to coordinate internal processes without conscious thought, e.g. regulate heart rate and controlling pupil size.
Reaction time is the time it takes to respond to a stimulus.

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