The body can respond to dangerous situations without conscious thought. A reflex action is a rapid, involuntary response that minimises damage to the body.The nervous pathway involved is called a reflex arc. The stimulus is detected by a receptor, which creates an action potential in the sensory neurone. The impulse travels from the sensory neurone to a relay neurone in the spinal cord, then to a motor neurone which carries the impulse to the effector to carry out the response.