withdrawal reflex

A withdrawal reflex is a quick, automatic reaction your body has to protect itself from harm. When you touch something hot, sharp, or painful, sensors in your skin send signals through nerves to your spinal cord. The spinal cord immediately processes this information and sends a message back to muscles to move away from the danger, like pulling your hand back quickly. This reflex happens instantly, without waiting for your brain to think about it, helping prevent injury by automatically initiating protective movement.