Golgi tendon reflex - wikipedia Golgi tendon reflex The Golgi tendon reflex is a normal component of the reflex arc of the peripheral nervous system. In a Golgi tendon reflex, skeletal muscle contraction causes the antagonist muscle to simultaneously lengthen and relax. This reflex is also called the inverse myotatic reflex, because it is the inverse of the stretch reflex. Though muscle tension is increasing during the contraction, alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord supplying the muscle are inhibited. However, antagonistic muscles are activated. Contents 1 Function 2 Contrast to stretch reflex 3 Steps 4 Pathology 5 See also 6 References Function The Golgi tendon reflex operates as a protective feedback mechanism to control the tension of an active muscle by causing relaxation before the tendon tension becomes high enough to cause damage. First, as a load is placed on the muscle, the afferent neuron from the Golgi tendon organ fires into the central nervous system. Second, the motor neuron from the spinal cord is inhibited via an IPSP and muscle relaxes. Contrast to stretch reflex The stretch reflex operates as a feedback mechanism to control muscle length by causing muscle contraction. In contrast, the tendon reflex operates as a feedback mechanism to control muscle tension by causing muscle relaxation before muscle force becomes so great that tendons might be torn. Although the tendon reflex is less sensitive than the stretch reflex, it can override the stretch reflex when tension is great, for example, causing a person to drop a very heavy weight. Like the stretch reflex, the tendon reflex is ipsilateral. The sensory receptors for this reflex are called tendon Golgi receptors, which lie within a tendon near its junction with a muscle. In contrast to muscle spindles, which are sensitive to changes in muscle length, tendon organs detect and respond to changes in muscle tension that are caused by muscular contraction, but not passive stretch. Steps A Golgi tendon reflex operates as follows : As the tension applied to a tendon increases, the Golgi tendon organ ( sensor ) is stimulated ( depolarized to threshold ) Nerve impulses ( action potentials ) arise and propagate along the Ib sensory fiber into the spinal cord Within the spinal cord ( integrating center ), the Ib sensory fiber synapses with and activates ( via glutamate ) an inhibitory interneuron that synapses with the alpha ( α ) motor neuron The inhibitory interneuron releases the neurotransmitter glycine that inhibits ( hyperpolarizes ) the alpha ( α ) motor neuron As a consequence fewer nerve impulses are generated in the alpha ( α ) motor neuron The muscle relaxes and excess tension is relieved Pathology The clasp - knife response is a stretch reflex with a rapid decrease in resistance when attempting to flex a joint. However, it is actually thought to be caused by the tendon reflex of the antagonistic muscle of that joint, which gets extended. It is one of the characteristic responses of an upper motor neuron lesion. See also H - reflex Motor control Reflex action References Jump up ^ Tortora, Gerard ( 2011 ). Principles of anatomy and physiology. Hoboken, N.J : Wiley. ISBN 9780470646083. Jump up ^ musom.marshall.edu - SPINAL REFLEXES Nervous system physiology : neurophysiology - reflex Cranial nerve midbrain : Pupillary light reflex Accommodation reflex pons / medulla : Jaw jerk reflex Corneal reflex Caloric reflex test / Vestibulo - ocular reflex / Oculocephalic reflex Pharyngeal ( gag ) reflex Stretch reflexes upper limb : Biceps reflex C5 / C6 Brachioradialis reflex C6 Triceps reflex C7 / C8 lower limb : Patellar reflex L2 - L4 Ankle jerk reflex S1 / S2 Plantar reflex L5 - S2 Primitive reflexes Galant Gastrocolic Grasp Moro Rooting Stepping Sucking Tonic neck Parachute Superficial reflexes Abdominal reflex Cremasteric reflex Lists general alphabetical by organ Cardiovascular Bainbridge reflex Bezold - Jarisch reflex Coronary reflex Diving reflex Oculocardiac reflex Baroreflex Reflex bradycardia Reflex tachycardia Respiratory Churchill - Cope reflex Other Acoustic reflex H - reflex Golgi tendon reflex Optokinetic Startle reaction Withdrawal reflex ( Crossed extensor reflex ) Symmetrical tonic neck reflex Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golgi_tendon_reflex&oldid=795544224 '' Categories : Reflexes Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 14 August 2017, at 22 : 33. About Wikipedia

Question: reflex causing muscle relaxation so that tendons will not be torn
Answer: Golgi tendon reflex