Journal ArticleDOI
An evaluation of length and force feedback to soleus muscles of decerebrate cats.
J C Houk,J J Singer,M R Goldman +2 more
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This work has attempted to determine whether or not this regulation of force by signals from tendon organs is significant in decerebrate cats.Abstract:
IT IS NOW WELL KNOWN that contraction of a muscle is reflexly excited by responses of its spindle receptors to stretch (32, 34) and is reflexly inhibited by responses of its Golgi tendon organs to contraction (10, 31). Many experimental techniques have been used to confirm these observations (7, 12, 23). Nevertheless, the actual importance of each of these reflexes in the gradation of contraction remains obscure because of the lack of an experimental approach which is capable of estimating quantitatively their respective influences (39). Formerly it was believed by many that tendon organs responded and inhibited contraction on1 .y when muscular forces became excessive. Recent studies (19, 26) have cast doubt on this hypothesis by demonstrating for these receptors a much lower threshold to must ular contract ion than was previ not ouslv t .h assure ought. This find .ing alone does a con tinuo us regulation of muscular force by signals from tendon organs since impulses must be transmitted through one or two interneurons before they may inhibit homonymous motoneurons (7, 31). Studies have shown that these Ib pathways transmit impulses more effectively in spinal than in decerebrate cats (8). It is therefore likely that the gain of this reflex pathway is not constant but, rather, is subject to control by signals from various regions of the nervous system. For example, Ib pathways are facilitated by signals transmitted from the red nucleus (IS). As a result, the relative importance of tendon organs in the regulation of contraction would depend on the particular state of the experimental animal. We have attempted to determine whether or not this regulation of force is significant in decerebrate cats.read more
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Modulation of dynamic parameters of muscle reflex by selective activation of its gamma system.
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How modest is the gain of the stretch reflex
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References
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Functional significance of cell size in spinal motoneurons
TL;DR: The present paper is concerned with the central part of the motoneuron and the significance of its size in synaptic transmission and asks whether the cell bodies (and dendrites) connected with large and small motor fibers have different functional properties which can be recognized by their discharge characteristics.
Journal ArticleDOI
Excitability and inhibitibility of motoneurons of different sizes
TL;DR: It was concluded tentatively that the size or surface area of a motoneuron determines its excitability and hence its responsiveness to stretch-evoked impulses and if this conclusion is correct, it may infer that size is a prime determinant of excitability throughout the nervous system.
Journal ArticleDOI
Responses of Golgi tendon organs to active contractions of the soleus muscle of the cat.
J Houk,E Henneman +1 more
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The mechanical properties of cat soleus muscle during controlled lengthening and shortening movements
TL;DR: By supplying pulses to different subdivisions of the ventral nerve roots in rotation, it was possible to obtain smooth contractions of cat soleus with low rates of stimulation.
Journal ArticleDOI
An analysis of the mechanical components in frog's striated muscle.
B. R. Jewell,D. R. Wilkie +1 more
TL;DR: J. R. Wilkie striated muscle An analysis of the mechanical components in frog's This information is current as of March 19, 2008 and has been published is the official journal of The Journal of Physiology Online.
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