Reflex Vascular

The vascular reflex is the reaction of the vascular system to irritation of the chemoreceptors of the vestibular or auditory system. When the head moves in space, deformation of the labyrinth occurs, causing stretching of the mamillary fibers and transmission of excitation from them to the cochlear nerve and to the vascular center of the medulla oblongata. This entails an increase in venous flow to the brain and dilation of the vessels of the head and torso; on the contrary, a decrease in venous outflow is associated with a delay in venous changes. As a result of these reactions, a reaction of dilatation of the veins of the skull, torso and face occurs. “Vascular” reflexes are involuntary reactions that occur a few seconds after the cessation of critical stimuli. These reflexes are expressed in the occurrence of muscle contractions, so-called spasms; the frequency of their manifestations depends primarily on the strength of irritation. The more intense it is, the faster the vascular reaction develops. Thus, this reaction affects the nervous processes of the cerebral cortex, many neural centers of all parts of the central nervous system.