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An autonomic reflex is one that involves the response of an organ, such as the peristaltic contraction of the smooth muscle of the intestines, that is not controlled consciously. Somatic reflexes involve a response that involves a skeletal muscle contraction in response to a stimuli. Sensory nerves send signals through an afferent pathway to the central nervous system for processing. If a quick response is needed, the spinal cord will send out a signal back out the efferent pathway to the appropriate skeletal muscle. The signal is also sent up the spinal cord to the brain for further processing. This 'splitting' of the signal allows the reflex to happen quicker than if the signal were sent only to the brain for processing before a response could be initiated.

The autonomic reflex is associated with one branch of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions; these include internal organs and glands. A somatic reflex is part of the other branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls skeletal muscle movements, including the reflexes, like the knee jerk test that a doctor would give you.

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16y ago
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11y ago

As far as function goes, somatic reflexes connect to skeletal muscle, so it triggers reflexes like kicking your knee when the patellar tendon it hit, or pulling your hand back when it touches something hot, or pulling back when you step on something sharp.
Autonomic reflexes connect to smooth muscle, so it triggers changes in things you don't normally have control over, like how wide the arteries are dilated, or the churning of the stomach, or excretion from sweat glands.

A somatic reflex is usually an arch that only goes as high as the spinal cord. The signal goes up the sensory nerve to the spinal cord and then down a motor nerve to produce the motion. All of the processing of the signal is done in the spinal cord.
An autonomic reflex involves different centers in the brain and does not always trigger motion.

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14y ago

the somatic nervous system which controls organs under voluntary control (mainly muscles) and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) which regulates individual organ function and homeostasis, and for the most part is not subject to voluntary control.

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14y ago

Automatic is involuntary and somatic is voluntary

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Q: How are somatic and autonomic reflexes similar and how are they different?
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What are the two functional classifications of reflexes?

The two functional classifications of reflexes are autonomic reflexes, which regulate activities of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands, and somatic reflexes, which involve skeletal muscles. Autonomic reflexes are involuntary and controlled by the autonomic nervous system, while somatic reflexes are voluntary and controlled by the somatic nervous system.


Is a effector are skeletal muscles a somatic reflex or a autonomic reflex?

Skeletal muscles, which are effectors, are involved in somatic reflexes. Somatic reflexes involve voluntary control of skeletal muscles and are part of the somatic nervous system. Autonomic reflexes, on the other hand, involve the control of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands, and are part of the autonomic nervous system.


Is the regulation of blood pressure a somatic reflex?

No, the regulation of blood pressure is not considered a somatic reflex. It is primarily controlled by autonomic reflexes involving the cardiovascular system, which are regulated by the autonomic nervous system and hormones. Somatic reflexes typically involve skeletal muscles and are responsible for voluntary movements.


Is the Regulation of blood pressure autonomic or somatic?

The regulation of blood pressure is primarily autonomic, controlled by the autonomic nervous system. It involves reflexes that can adjust heart rate, blood vessel diameter, and volume of blood in circulation to maintain blood pressure within a normal range. Somatic control, which involves conscious effort, is not a significant factor in regulating blood pressure.


Reflex that control skeletal muscle are called?

Somatic Reflex

Related questions

Are effectors which are smooth muscle and glands considered somatic or autonomic reflexes?

somatic


What are the two functional classifications of reflexes?

The two functional classifications of reflexes are autonomic reflexes, which regulate activities of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands, and somatic reflexes, which involve skeletal muscles. Autonomic reflexes are involuntary and controlled by the autonomic nervous system, while somatic reflexes are voluntary and controlled by the somatic nervous system.


Is a effector are skeletal muscles a somatic reflex or a autonomic reflex?

Skeletal muscles, which are effectors, are involved in somatic reflexes. Somatic reflexes involve voluntary control of skeletal muscles and are part of the somatic nervous system. Autonomic reflexes, on the other hand, involve the control of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands, and are part of the autonomic nervous system.


Is the regulation of blood pressure a somatic reflex?

No, the regulation of blood pressure is not considered a somatic reflex. It is primarily controlled by autonomic reflexes involving the cardiovascular system, which are regulated by the autonomic nervous system and hormones. Somatic reflexes typically involve skeletal muscles and are responsible for voluntary movements.


Is a gag reflex a somatic reflex?

No, a somatic reflex are the reflexes of the skeletal muscle movements. The gag reflex is considered to be an autonomic reflex.


How are somatic and autonomic nervous systems similar?

I came on this to figure it out!


Flexor reflex somatic or autonomic?

it is a somatic reflex


Is the Regulation of blood pressure autonomic or somatic?

The regulation of blood pressure is primarily autonomic, controlled by the autonomic nervous system. It involves reflexes that can adjust heart rate, blood vessel diameter, and volume of blood in circulation to maintain blood pressure within a normal range. Somatic control, which involves conscious effort, is not a significant factor in regulating blood pressure.


If the doctor swabs the back of your throat and you gag is this somatic or autonomic reflexes?

The gag reflex is an involuntary reflex, therefore it is an autonomic reflex. The peripheral nervous system is the part of the nervous system outside the central nervous system (which consists of the brain and spinal cord). The peripheral nervous system is split into two parts - the somatic nervous system and the autonomic system. The somatic system controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements and the autonomic system controls involuntary or automatic actions.


Are the smooth muscle glands somatic or autonomic?

Autonomic


How do reflexes involve in muscular system?

somatic


What is the difference between the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous systems?

somatic is voluntary autonomic is involuntary.