Reflexes

Question 1

Muscle spindles monitor

Answer 1

muscle length

Question 2

stretch reflex follows a

Answer 2

sharp tap to the inelastic tendon

Question 3

stretch activates the sensory nerves in the

Answer 3

muscle fibre

Question 4

spindle sensory afferent divide and form 3 types of connections

Answer 4

1. monosynaptic (directly activate the alpha motoneurone pool - causes contraction of the AGONIST muscle)
2. reciprocal inhibition (agonist contracts and antagonist relaxes/stretches)
3. ascends into dorsal column - connect to somatosensory cortex to tell brain about the length of muscles

Question 5

when the agonist muscle contract the

Answer 5

antagonist muscle relaxes (stretches)