Monosynaptic Reflex Arcs

A reflex arc is the neural pathway that controls a reflex movement. There are two different types of reflex arcs. There are monosynaptic reflex arcs, which contain only one synapse and no interneuron and there are polysynaptic arcs, which contain one or more interneurons. All reflex arcs begin with a stimulus that is sensed by a sensory receptor. The pain receptors in turn signal an impulse in the sensory neuron (afferent). The sensory neuron then goes through a synapse (into the CNS) but after that synapse the destination depends on the type of reflex arc it is. If the reflex arc is monosynaptic it will go directly from the synapse it just passed and signal an impulse in the motor neuron. If it is a polysynaptic reflex arc however, after the