What is a monosynaptic reflex arc?

Is a reflex involving only one synapse between the sensory and the motor neurone. This starts by a stimulus which is picked up by receptors causing an action potential to be fired before synapsing in the spinal cord allowing the response to be produced.

Hey Charles!

A monosynaptic reflex is a reflex that occurs but only contains one space for the action potential to travel between the sensory neuron and motor neuron. Remember "Mono" means one! The monosynaptic reflex arc refers to the neural wiring of a single reflex, basically, the bridge built between the sensory and motor neuron, creating the reflex movement! A good example is when you gently tap the soft spot just below your knee, and your lower leg swings upwards in a kicking motion.

Hope this helps!

The monosynaptic stretch reflex, or sometimes also referred to as the muscle stretch reflex, deep tendon reflex, is a reflex arc that provides direct communication between sensory and motor neurons innervating the muscle.The perfect example of the monosynaptic reflex is the knee-jerk or the patellar reflex. ... Then, neuron II of the patellar reflex, which is in the lumbar segments of the spinal cord, sends the efferent signal through its axon to the quadriceps muscle to contract.

The knee jerk reflex is called a monosynaptic reflex because there is only one synapse in the circuit needed to complete the reflex.

Have you wondered what controls speed at which u remove your hand when it comes in contact with a hot object? It is a classical example of a monosynaptic reflex arc. It is the most primitive reflex and protective mechanism of the body. It has 4 components including a receptor, on your skin to detect the danger, a sensory input that transport this signal, a central component located in the spinal cord that processes and translate this signal, and an efferent component that transport this processed signal to the muscle, telling the muscle to quickly move away from the danger.