What are reflexes?

Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

Reflexes are a nerve responses which are not controlled by the brain but instead are programed to respond in a certain way to protect your body. An example of this is jerking your hand back when you accidentally touch something hot. Another example is when a doctor hits your knee and it causes your leg to kick out. The nerves are stimulated which sends a signal to the spinal cord and a nerve loop in the spinal cord sends a message back to cause the reflex without the involvement of the brain.

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