Reflexes: Interneuron involved?

[justadream]

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In a reflex arc, is it just from sensory neuron ==> motor neuron?

Or is there another neuron in the middle involved?

MCAT-Review says the path is

"Reflex arc = receptor → sensory neuron → integration center → motor neuron → effector "

but I'm not sure what exactly the "integration center" is.

 

[ayocaptain628]

interneurons in the gray matter connect the sensory neuron and the motor neuron

 

[Czarcasm]

In a reflex arc, is it just from sensory neuron ==> motor neuron?

Or is there another neuron in the middle involved?

MCAT-Review says the path is

"Reflex arc = receptor → sensory neuron → integration center → motor neuron → effector "

but I'm not sure what exactly the "integration center" is.

In some instances, a sensory neuron synapses with an interneuron (typical scenario). In other cases, it synapses directly with a motor neuron (sometimes both: motor and interneuron). The main thing to realize is that a reflex occurs as an immediate response to some sensory input, without conscious input. After the action has occured, an interneuron can relay info to the brain where the action is fully understood. A good example is touching a hot stove. Your hand immediately jerks away (a reflex response), and only fractions of a second after, your brain is able to comprehend what happened (touched a hot stove).