Structure & Function of the Withdrawal Reflex, a Polysynaptic Reflex

The video tutorial explains the withdrawal reflex, a phasic reflex that occurs in response to a noxious stimulus. It contrasts this with a tonic reflex, which indicates potential neurological damage. Using a scene from 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', the video illustrates an abnormal physiological response to a hot object. The tutorial then details the mechanism of the withdrawal reflex, involving sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons, leading to muscle contractions that remove the body part from the stimulus. Practical examples, such as stepping on a tack, are used to demonstrate the reflex in action.

What is the withdrawal reflex and how does it function?

Describe the physiological response that should occur when a person touches a scalding hot object.

What role do nociceptors play in the withdrawal reflex?

Explain the pathway of the withdrawal reflex from the sensory neuron to the motor neuron.

What happens to the muscles in the arm during the withdrawal reflex?

How does the body prioritize responses to a highly noxious stimulus?

In the context of the video discussed, what was abnormal about the character's response to the hot medallion?