Golgi Tendon Organ Flashcards
What is a GTO?
Stretch receptors located in the tendons and musculoaponeurotic junction.
Golgi tendon organs are encapsulated sensory receptors with 10-15 muscle fibers connected.
Each Golgi tendon organ basically consists of a group of nerve endings covered by a capsule of connective tissue
What are the benefits of GTO function?
Golgi tendon organs provide instantaneous feedback on muscle tension.
Helps control muscle tension through the Golgi tendon reflex.
Allows nervous system to receive real-time information on muscle tension
What are the limitations of GTO function?
Lower level of steady-state firing can lead to misinterpretation of tension levels.
Only provides information on tension in small segments of muscles.
May not always accurately reflect overall muscle tension levels.
Describe the GTO reflex
When a muscle contracts , the muscle tension increases. The Golgi tendon organ detects the muscle tension.
Sends impulses through afferent (group Ib) fibers it stimulate the inhibitory interneurons.
Release inhibitory mediator glycine, which inhibits alpha motor neurons and cause relaxation of the muscle that originally contracted.
At the same time, due to reciprocal innervation ,the antagonistic muscles are excited. The Golgi tendon reflex , thus, displays reciprocal innervation but lacks after discharge and irradiation.
What is the physiological role of a GTO?
Protective function – from damaging forceful contraction
Regulation of tension during normal muscle activity –Autogenic inhibition- the force generated when the muscle contracts is the stimulus for its own relaxation.
Injuries to Golgi Tendon Organ result in decreased proprioception, affecting body awareness.
This can lead to increased injury risk due to compromised ability to sense joint position
What is the importance of the GTO?
The Golgi Tendon Organ detects changes in muscle tension to prevent overloading and injuries.
Information from Golgi Tendon Organ is sent to the CNS for feedback and adjustment of muscle activity
Understanding Golgi Tendon Organ function can guide rehabilitation programs for injury prevention and recovery
