Neurological Considerations

• Afferent signals go to the brain
• Efferent signals go away from the brain
• Afferent neurons enter spinal cord via dorsal root
• Nociceptors detect pain
• Stronger stimuli result in higher firing rate in afferent axon
• Responses decrease overtime if stimulus remains constant
• Proprioceptors are receptors stimulated by motion
• Pacinian corpuscles are activated by rapid joint angle changes, vibrations, and pressure
• Ruffini endings are activated by joint angle changes and constant pressure
• Muscle spindles are intrafusal muscle fibres
• Muscle spindles detect length changes
• Muscle spindles stimulate muscles to produce force to resist stretching
• Golgi tendon organs detect tension
• Golgi tendon organs stimulate muscle to relax when stretched
• Stretch Reflex:

  • Proprioceptor: muscle spindles
  • Positive effect on muscle force
  • Agonist contracts, generating force to resist stretch
  • Antagonist is inhibited
• Golgi Tendon Reflex:

  • Proprioceptor: golgi tendon organs
  • negative effect on muscle force
  • Agonist relaxes, producing less force to reduce tension
  • Excitatory effect on antagonist