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What is the primary function of interneurons in the nervous system?
What is the purpose of the knee-jerk reflex?
Which type of neuron is stimulated first in the knee-jerk reflex?
What is the role of the interneuron in the knee-jerk reflex?
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What is the outcome of the knee-jerk reflex in terms of muscle contraction?
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What is the effect of activating the sensory neuron on the hamstring muscle?
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What is the role of the inhibitory interneuron in the reflex circuit?
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What is the purpose of the sensory neurons of the quadriceps in the reflex circuit?
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What is the function of the spinal cord circuits in the knee jerk reflex?
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What is the role of the brain in the knee jerk reflex?
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Study Notes
Interneurons (Association Neurons)
- Interneurons act as a middle-man between afferent (sensory) neurons and efferent (motor) neurons, transmitting signals from the peripheral nervous system to the CNS.
- They connect to other interneurons, enabling communication between them.
Knee-Jerk Reflex
- The knee-jerk reflex occurs when the patellar tendon is tapped, stimulating sensory neurons to fire, which in turn activates motor neurons that stimulate the quadriceps muscle to contract.
- The sensory neurons from the quadriceps muscle connect directly to the motor neurons that innervate the same muscle, causing it to contract after it has been stretched.
Neural Circuits in Knee-Jerk Reflex
- The neural circuit involves sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons in the spinal cord.
- The sensory neuron activates the motor neuron, causing the quadriceps muscle to contract.
- The sensory neuron also activates an inhibitory interneuron, which inhibits the motor neuron that innervates the hamstring muscle, causing it to relax.
Inhibitory Interneuron's Role
- The inhibitory interneuron ensures that the hamstring muscle relaxes, facilitating the contraction of the quadriceps muscle.
Sensory Neurons' Role
- Sensory neurons from the quadriceps muscle participate in the reflex circuit and also send messages to the brain, allowing conscious perception of sensory stimuli.
Brain's Role
- The brain receives messages from sensory neurons and is responsible for higher functions of the nervous system, including conscious perception of sensory stimuli.
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Description
This quiz covers the role of interneurons in the nervous system, including their connection to sensory and motor neurons and their involvement in reflexes such as the knee-jerk reflex.
