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Withdrawal reflex: philosophy and physiology

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Regional Anaesthesia Analgesia and Pain Management

Part of the book series: Topics in Anaesthesia and Critical Care ((TIACC))

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Abstract

The term “withdrawal reflex” is intended to mean any reflex whose end purpose is to protect the organism or one of its tissues from being damaged (Fig. 1). One example is the corneal reflex described as “irritation of the cornea causing the reflex closure of the lids” [1].

To the memory of Vito Valterra, the illustrious mathematician who, in 1932, published his “Mathematical Theory of the Struggle for Life”, a splendid mathematical analysis of survival strategies where the fundamental model is the withdrawal reflex.

“The chief function of the central nervous system is to send messages to the muscles which will make the body move effectively as a whole”: E.D. Adrian, Nobel Prize 1932.

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Authors
  1. M. Tiengo
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    M. Tiengo MD (Professor Emeritus) (Professor Emeritus)

  2. Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy

    V. A. Paladini MD

  3. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden

    N. Rawal MD

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© 1999 Springer Verlag Italia, Milano

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Tiengo, M. (1999). Withdrawal reflex: philosophy and physiology. In: Tiengo, M., Paladini, V.A., Rawal, N. (eds) Regional Anaesthesia Analgesia and Pain Management. Topics in Anaesthesia and Critical Care. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2240-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2240-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0044-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2240-9

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