Reflex (Lat. Reflexus - Curled Back, Reflected)

A reflex (from the Latin Reflexus - curved back, reflected) is an innate, automatic reaction to a given stimulus, determined by the anatomical relationships of the corresponding neurons. Reflexes are the elementary units of nervous activity and represent an important defense mechanism for the body.

Every person has reflexes that are innate, and reflexes that are acquired in the process of life. Congenital reflexes are reactions that are observed in a child immediately after birth and do not require training. These include, for example, reflexes of breathing, swallowing, blinking and others.

One of the most well-known innate reflexes is the patellar reflex, which occurs when the kneecap is struck. This reflex is caused by the action of receptors that are located in the thigh muscles and transmit signals to the spinal cord, from where the response impulse returns through the nerves to the thigh muscles and contraction occurs.

Reflexes can also be influenced by learning and experience. For example, the reflex to the sound of a soda can opening or the hissing sounds that cause salivation can be acquired as a result of classical conditioning.

Reflexes perform important functions in the human body, such as protection from danger, maintaining balance, and regulating internal organs. However, some reflexes can cause illness, for example, if the swallowing or coughing reflex is impaired.

Thus, reflexes are an important mechanism of protection and regulation of the body. The study of reflexes helps to understand the principles of the nervous system and develop methods of treating diseases associated with impaired reflexes.