Some might think that the brain is not the mothership of orders when it comes to involuntary movements. And that thinking is not completely wrong, but just because the signal starts somewhere, it doesn’t mean that the boss has changed.
The brain is and will always be the CEO, big boss, big kahuna, supreme leader, or anything else you wish to call it, who will remind us that he is in charge of everything.
First, a reminder of what movements are considered involuntary. In this particular article we are talking about reflex movements, which are a subcategory of involuntary movements. We all remember our parents’ reaction, or have been told about it in some family gatherings about when we got close to something that could burn us or electrocute us or could harm us in any way. Our parents would shout at us or scare us to stop us from hurting ourselves.
But, let’s say our parents aren’t there: how do we make sure not to burn the skin off our hands? Well, that signal will start at the nerves that reports danger and pain. That signal will travel at an even higher speed to the spinal cord that connects to the brain, which acts as the higher-up, telling the brain we have a problem down in the right hand on the index and middle finger.
Once that signal has reached the brain, the latter will quickly send another signal back down the spinal cord, through the nerves, then the nerves will distribute that order to the fascia which will finally recruit the muscles involved in removing your hand away from that dangerous position.
In conclusion here, the nerves are merely the messenger that have to report to the higher up, which is the spinal cord, which then reports to the boss of bosses, the brain. Regardless whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary, there is always a hierarchy. The brain is at the top, the spinal cord is right under it, then come the nerves, then comes the fascia and finally the muscles.