Somatic and visceral reflex arcs are similar, but visceral reflex arcs lack afferent fibers (visceral sensory neurons).

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Somatic and visceral reflex arcs differ in several ways, but one significant difference is that visceral reflex arcs do involve afferent fibers. Visceral sensory neurons are responsible for detecting chemical, mechanical, and thermal changes in the viscera (internal organs), and they transmit this information to autonomic motor neurons in the reflex arc. The lack of conscious perception of visceral sensations is due to the fact that the afferent fibers synapse in the spinal cord or brainstem rather than in areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in conscious awareness.

Somatic and Visceral Reflex Arcs Are Similar, but Visceral Reflex