Flexor reflex & Crossed extensor reflex

• The flexor reflex is a response to pain. This reflex is polysynaptic, ipsilateral, and intersegmental. • Pain receptors are stimulated causing increased frequency of action potentials to be generated and conducted along the sensory neuron axon. • The sensory impulses excite several association neurons that lead to additional spinal cord segments. • In turn, these impulses excite motor neurons leading to several different limb muscles. • The flexor reflex is a response to pain. This reflex is polysynaptic, ipsilateral, and intersegmental. • The flexor muscles contract and cause the appendage to withdraw from the painful stimuli. • The crossed extensor reflex helps your body maintain its balance when it has been disrupted, often as a result of a flexor reflex. • Like the flexor reflex it is polysnaptic and intersegmental, but differs in that it is contralateral. • Pain receptors are stimulated on the right side causing an increased frequency of action potentials being generated and conducted along the sensory neuron axon. • The sensory impulses excite several association neurons that lead to additional spinal cord segments on the same right side. • In turn, these impulses excite motor neurons leading to several different limb muscles causing withdrawal. • Association neurons in the spinal cord also synapse with motor neurons on the opposite side and send signals to extensor muscles in opposite (left) limb. • The crossed extensor reflex helps your body maintain its balance when it has been disrupted, often as a result of a flexor reflex. • In response, extensor muscles contact, extending the left leg to balance the withdrawal of the right leg from the painful stimulus.

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