Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Neural pathways in the spinal cord trigger swift protective muscle reactions. The figure is taken from MedlinePlus, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a human body fact?

Yes. It sits on the Human Body shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Spinal reflexes act before signals reach the conscious brain

Neural pathways in the spinal cord trigger swift protective muscle reactions

When you touch a hot surface, sensory nerve signals trigger an immediate response directly within the spinal cord. This reflex arc commands muscles to retract your hand milliseconds before sensory information reaches the cerebral cortex to register the feeling of pain.

Where this comes from

MedlinePlus

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

Go further

Science trivia Reaction Time Test

More facts like this

Sneezing expels mucosal particles at high velocityIrritation in nasal passages triggers explosive respiratory clearing moves Coughing protects lower respiratory airways from blockagesHigh-pressure air bursts sweep mucus and foreign particles out of lungs Goosebumps are caused by tiny hair follicle muscles contractingArrector pili muscles pull skin hairs upright in response to cold or emotion Proprioception gives the brain awareness of body position in spaceReceptors in muscles tendons and joints communicate limb location continuously Specialised thermoreceptors detect temperature changes in skinDistinct nerve endings register cold and warm thermal stimuli independently Nerve signals can travel up to 120 metres per secondMyelinated nerve fibres transmit electrical signals across the body in milliseconds

Tags: reflexes, spinal cord, nerves

Spinal reflexes act before signals reach the conscious brain: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Neural pathways in the spinal cord trigger swift protective muscle reactions. The figure is taken from MedlinePlus, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a human body fact?: Yes. It sits on the Human Body shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.