pupillary reflex
- noun
- /ˈpjuːpɪˌlɛri ˈriːflɛks/
- Specialized
:
reflejo pupilar
- To ensure proper eye response, the nurse tested the pupillary reflex in the examination room.
Examples
-
Now we can check the pupillary reflexes.
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The doctor observed the patient's pupillary reflex to assess their neurological function.
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Bright light can trigger a quick pupillary reflex, causing the pupils to constrict.
Synonyms
1
9.9
The pupil of the eye becomes smaller in bright light or after some drugs
1
5.3
An automatic change that makes the pupil smaller in bright light or after some drugs
The pupil becomes smaller because of bright light or some drugs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'pupillary' means 'pertaining to the pupil' and 'reflex' means 'an automatic response', so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes an automatic response of the pupil (e.g., constriction to bright light). It is a technical medical term but its meaning follows straightforward word combination and is cross-linguistically predictable.
Etymology
Pupillary reflex comes from watching the eye react to light. The black center, the pupil, becomes smaller as the colored ring, the iris, tightens without you thinking, so it means the eye's 'automatic' response to bright light.