Receptors and reflexes

Question 1

Throughout our body we sensory receptors known as ?

Answer 1

proprioceptors (or mechanoreceptors)

Question 2

Where are these proprioceptors located?

Answer 2

These are located in muscles, tendons and joints

Question 3

What do proprioceptors do? (3)

Answer 3

They convey information about
1. body position
2. muscle length and tension, and
3. the position and movement of our joints.

Question 4

Proprioceptors convey information by sensing distortion in tissues, which occurs though what 4 things?

Answer 4

1. stretch
2. compression
3. tension and
4. vibration

Question 5

Name 3 types of proprioceptors

Answer 5

1. Muscle spindles
2. Golgi tendon organs
3. Joint receptors

Question 6

Where are muscle spindles located in the muscle?

Answer 6

in the belly of the muscle

Question 7

What do muscle spindles monitor and what are they sensitive to?

Answer 7

They monitor muscle length and are sensitive to stretch and the rate at which a muscle lengthens.

Question 8

Where are Golgi tendons located?

Answer 8

Golgi tendon organs are sensory receptors situated at the point where the muscle and the tendon meet.

Question 9

What are golgi tendons sensitive to?

Answer 9

changes in muscular tension and the rate of tension change.

Question 10

Where are joint receptors located?

Answer 10

in and around the joint capsule.

Question 11

What are joint receptors sensitive to and what important role do they play?

Answer 11

pressure, acceleration and deceleration of the joint.

These receptors act to signal extreme joint positions, and so play an important role in preventing injury.

Question 12

A reflex is a fast involuntary pre-programmed sequence of actions that is initiated and controlled by the ____________ in response to certain stimuli.

Answer 12

nervous system

Question 13

Give an example of a reflex and the receptor at play

Answer 13

touching something hot thermoreceptors will initiate a response for you to move your hand

Question 14

The stretch reflex, which is also known as the myotatic reflex, is a pre-programmed response by the body to stop what from happening?

Answer 14

It is a protective measure for the muscles, to prevent overstretching.

Question 15

It is the stretch reflex will determine a person’s what?

Answer 15

flexibility

Question 16

When muscles contract they produce tension at the point where the muscle connects to the tendon. This is where the ____________ is located.

Answer 16

Golgi tendon organ

Question 17

The golgi tendon organ monitors the change in tension, and the rate of change of the tension, and sends signals to the spinal cord to convey this information.When this tension exceeds a certain threshold, it triggers the lengthening reaction known as the what?

Answer 17

inverse stretch reflex

Question 18

The inverse stretch reflex inhibits the muscles from doing what? and causes them to ______.

Answer 18

contracting and causes them to relax

Question 19

The inverse stretch reflex is also known as the inverse myotatic reflex or ?

Answer 19

autogenic inhibition

Question 20

The basic function of the Golgi tendon organs (autogenic inhibition) helps to do what for the body?

Answer 20

protect the muscles and tendons from injury.

Question 21

Although the stretch reflex and the inverse stretch reflex are both types of reflex, the process by which a nerve impulse produces a reflex is known as the ?

Answer 21

The reflex arc