Final answer:
Reflexes are involuntary, rapid responses controlled by the peripheral nervous system, while local homeostatic responses are slower, intrinsic adjustments initiated and regulated by cells or tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reflexes and local homeostatic responses are both mechanisms that help maintain the internal environment of the body, but they function in different ways and have different controls.
Reflexes are involuntary, rapid responses to a specific stimulus. They are controlled by the peripheral nervous system and occur without conscious thought, such as pulling your hand away from a hot stove. Reflex arcs, which consist of a sensory receptor, an afferent neuron, an integration center, an efferent neuron, and an effector, are responsible for transmitting and coordinating reflexes.
On the other hand, local homeostatic responses are slower, local adjustments that maintain a stable internal environment. They are intrinsic controls, meaning they are initiated and regulated by the cells or tissues themselves. Local homeostatic responses typically involve negative feedback, where a stimulus leads to a response that counteracts the stimulus and brings the system back to its set point.