Question

What is an example of a monosynaptic reflex?

Answer 1

Monosynaptic reflex:

1. The kind of reflex arc, that is composed of a sensory and a motor neuron.
2. It is responsible for the direct transmission of messages between the sensory and motor neurons for stimulating the muscles.
3. The reflex with only one synapse is called the monosynaptic reflex.

Example of a monosynaptic reflex is a knee jerk reflex:

1. It is also called Patellar reflex, which is caused due to sudden kicking movement of the lower leg in response to a strong tap on the patellar tendon, which lies below the kneecap.
2. When the patella region of the knee is struck then a signal wave is produced, which travels back to the spinal cord.
3. The signal wave produced by the knee jerk then, synapses to the spinal cord without any interneurons.
4. The motor neuron then conducts the efferent impulse which is conducted back to the quadriceps muscles to trigger the contraction, which makes the leg jerk or kick.