JN AJP: Cell Physiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Neurophysiol 53: 32-42, 1985;
0022-3077/85 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Jami, L.
Right arrow Articles by Zytnicki, D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Jami, L.
Right arrow Articles by Zytnicki, D.

Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 53, Issue 1 32-42, Copyright © 1985 by APS

ARTICLES

Responses of tendon organs to unfused contractions of single motor units

L. Jami, J. Petit, U. Proske and D. Zytnicki

The discharges of individual tendon organs of peroneus longus and tertius muscles were examined in anesthetized cats during stimulation of single motor units at frequencies that elicit unfused contraction (5-50/s). At these frequencies nearly all the fast-contracting motor units activating a tendon organ elicited responses whose discharge rates reproduced the stimulation frequency ("1:1 driving"), whereas slow-contracting motor units elicited responses in which the discharge rate was higher than the stimulation frequency. When a motor unit stimulated at 40/s developed a gradually potentiating tension, the tendon organ discharge could remain locked on stimulation frequency over an appreciable range of the increasing tension as if the receptor responded to the tension oscillations rather than to the mean level of tension. The only visible effect of the gradual increase in mean tension on the tendon organ response was a gradual decrease of the delay between each stimulus and the corresponding impulse. Driving of tendon organ discharge at the stimulation frequency occurred not only when relatively large oscillations were superimposed on a low level of static tension but also when the static component of the tension was quantitatively preponderant. These observations suggest that during unfused contractions the dynamic component of the stimulus (i.e., oscillation of tension) exerts a prevailing influence on the discharge pattern of tendon organs. Computed simulations of tendon organ responses confirmed that a relatively strong dynamic sensitivity could account for the observed behavior of the receptor.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Physiol. Rev.Home page
J. Duysens, F. Clarac, and H. Cruse
Load-Regulating Mechanisms in Gait and Posture: Comparative Aspects
Physiol Rev, January 1, 2000; 80(1): 83 - 133.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online