VPB 121: Veterinary Physiology - II (2+1)

GOLGI TENDON REFLEX

GOLGI tendon REFLEX/ inverse myotatic reflex / clasp-knife reflex

• Sensory receptor organ : golgi tendon organ
• Present in tendons of somatic skeletal muscle
• Present in pheripheral terminal and large of mylinated, class I_b nerve fibres.
• These receptors are excited during muscle contraction as contraction causes stretch of the tendon.
• These recptors are sensitive to change in the muscle tension.
• Class Ib fibres terminate in the internuncial neurons of spinal cord after forming a mono synaptic reflex arc.
• When muscle contracts, muscle tension increases which also causes increased tension of muscle tendons which in turn ends in the stimulation of golgi tendons.
• Sensory fibres from this receptor transmit signals to spinal cord to inhibit muscle contraction.
• It is a protective reflex to prevent over stretching and tear of muscle fibres and coordinate skeletal muscle activity.