Peripheral sensation and reflexes: Muscle receptors and tendon receptors Flashcards
What are sensory receptors in the muscle called?
Muscle spindles
What are sensory receptors in the tendons called
Golgi tendon organs
What do muscle spindles detect changes in?
Detect changes in length of muscle
What type of receptor are muscle spindles
proprioceptors
What are small muscle fibres inside called
Intrafusal fibres
What are the main muscle fibres outside called
Extrafusal fibres
What do Type I(a) fibres sense
- Muscle length
- rate of change in length
What do type II fibres sense
only sense muscle length
What do golgi tendon organs sense?
Tension in the muscle (force of contraction)
Where are golgi tendon organs located?
At the junction of the muscle and the tendon
How are golgi tendon organs activated?
Activated by contraction of the muscle due to compression by collagen and the firing of action potentials
What are 2 normal functions of golgi tendon organs?
- To regulate muscle tension within an optimal range
- To prevent muscle overload
Why must the whole muscle be stretched to activate the golgi tendon organs
high-threshold receptors
Give an example of a golgi tendon organ
1b afferent fibre
