Pupillary Reflex (Noun)
Meaning
Reflex contraction of the sphincter muscle of the iris in response to a bright light (or certain drugs) causing the pupil to become smaller.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The pupillary reflex is a critical diagnostic tool in ophthalmology, as its absence can indicate a serious underlying condition.
- The doctor shone a bright light into the patient's eye to test their pupillary reflex and determine the extent of their brain damage.
- In a normal pupillary reflex, the pupil should constrict in response to light, a process that is often impaired in individuals with certain neurological disorders.
- The pupillary reflex is mediated by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to changes in light intensity to regulate the amount of light entering the eye.
- Damage to the oculomotor nerve can disrupt the pupillary reflex, leading to a condition known as mydriasis, in which the pupil is permanently dilated.