Final answer:
The reflex involved in quickly removing the hand from a hot surface is the withdrawal reflex, which utilizes a reflex arc in the nervous system for a rapid response without brain intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reflex that results in one quickly removing one's hand from a hot stove is the withdrawal reflex. This is an automatic response that involves several components of the nervous system. When a high temperature is sensed by the sensory neurons in the skin, a nerve impulse is sent to the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS processes this information and sends a motor response to the skeletal muscles, specifically to the biceps brachii to contract, causing the hand to withdraw. This process involves an interneuron in the spinal cord which inhibits the motor neuron connected to the triceps brachii, relaxing it, and allowing a quicker withdrawal of the hand. The lack of antagonistic muscle contraction prevents further tissue damage by ensuring a faster response.
During this reflex, the muscle contracts in response to the nerve impulses completing a reflex arc, which happens without the direct involvement of the brain, allowing for an extraordinarily fast reaction.