Proprioceptors

PROPRIOCEPTORS

  • Receptors are located in the skeletal muscle, tendons, and joints known as the kinesthetic receptors. These inform the CNS about the movement and position of the limbs to maintain posture and equilibrium. 
  • The joint sense includes sense of movement and sense of positions.
  • The sense of movement is the ability to feel the movement with closed eyes. Sense of position is to feel the position of the body in relation to space. These two are mediated by receptors in and around the joint.
  • Receptors involved are the Spray nerve endings, Pacinian corpuscles, touch receptors, and free nerve endings located in the synovial membrane, ligaments, and tissues near the joint.
  • The impulses generated from these reach cerebral cortex through dorsal tracts, medial lemniscus, and thalamus to end in conscious perception of the position of the body in relation to space.
  • The impulses from muscle spindle organ, Golgi tendon organ, and vestibular apparatus of the internal ear do not reach cerebral cortex.
  • They are concerned with reflex adjustment of the muscle tone with the involvement of spinal cord to maintain posture and equilibrium. These are known as non-sensory proprioceptive impulses as they never bring out conscious sensations.

Proprioception and Respiration 

  • Some of these proprioceptors sends signals to the respiratory neurons about changes in the force exerted by the respiratory muscles and the movement of the ribcage.
  • The functioning of diaphragm with respiratory control is also mediated by one of the tendon organs in the external costals which inhibit inspiration upon stimulation by small change in the force of contraction of these muscles.
  • The stretching of diaphragm results in the inhibition of its contraction and inspiration acting through the tendon organs.
  • The intercostal reflexes are significant due to the presence of numerous muscle spindle organs in the external intercostals.
  • The muscle spindles help to coordinate breathing during changes in the posture and stabilize ribcage during reduction in lung compliance.
Last modified: Tuesday, 27 December 2011, 11:03 AM