muscle Spindle the spindle shaped proprioceptor present in the skeletal muscle is called muscle spindle. This is arranged in parallel with regular contractile fibres called extrafusal fibres. Structure - muscle spindle consists of 6-14 specialized muscle fibres The enclosed in a spindle-shaped fusiform fibrous sheath and hence the name muscle spindle. These are called intrafusal fibres. Two types of intrafusal fibres are present, namely, nuclear bag fibres and nuclear chain fibres. A spindle contains three or four NBF and up to 10 NCF. The muscle spindle is attached to the tendons at either end of the muscle or to the sides of the extrafusal fibres. Extrafusal fibres Motor nerve Contractile supply (‘gamma’ part pply (‘gamma’) Sensory nerve supply Non- contractile part Capsule Intra fusal fibres21, SENSORY RECEPTORS: 1 secondary ‘ending % ‘Muscle spindle with nerve supply. NBF ‘Nuclear bag fbr; NCF - Nuclear chain fibre. Jn general, the central portion ofthe intrafusal fibres does not contact while the end portion ofthe intrafusal fibres can contract due to the presence of actin and myosin filaments, 1. Nuclear bag fibre (NBE): This contains many nuclei in the central dilated area. Hence itis called muclear bag fibre. 2. Nuclear chain fibre (NCF): The central portion of NCF is not dilated andthe nucle are arranged ina single row inthe form of a chain. Hence itis called nuclear chain fibre. These fibres are short and their ends ae connected to the sides ofthe NBF. Nerve Supply The muscle spindles are supplied by both sensory and motor fibres. ‘Sensory Nerve Supply Each muscle spindle is supplied by two types of sensory nerve endings, namely, 1. Primary sensory (annulospiral) endings and 2. Secondary sensory (flower spray) endings. 1. Primary sensory (annulospiral) endings: These are tr- ‘minations of rapidly conducting group Ia afferent fibres (Aq). These end in the form of rings around the central| portion of the nuclear bag and nuclear chain fibres 4) Thenerves from the NBF discharge most rapidly while the muscle is being stretched and less rapidly during, sustained stretch. This i called dynamic response. by The nerve fibres from the nuclear chain fibres dis- charge at inereased rate throughout the period of sus- tained stretch only. This is called a stati “Thus the primary sensory nerve endings respond to both changes in length of the muscle and velocity at which it is being stretched, Secondary sensory (flower spray) endings: These are group II nerve fibres (AB). The fibres terminate near the polar ends of the nuclear chain fibres only. The endings mainly respond to sustained stretch (static response), therefore measure the length of the muscle. Both typesOf afferents make monosynaptic connections with a- Motor neurons. Motor Nerve Supply Motor nerve supply to the muscle spindle is provided by efferent fibres. Two types of 'y'efferents supply to the muscle Spindle—'y,’ and 'y,, a) y, efferents: They supply to the ends of NBF asplate end ings. These participate in dynamic response of NBF. >) y, efferents: They supply o the ends of NCF as trail end- ings. These participate in static response of NCF. Mechanism of Activation Muscle spindle and the afferent nerves that supply it can be activated by two ways: a) By stretch of the muscle: As the muscle spindle is arranged in parallel with extrafusal fibres, stretch of muscle causes stretch of the muscle spindle. This activates both primary and secondary afferent endings. This reflexly causes contraction of the muscle through ‘a’ motor neurons (stretch reflex). b) By activating 'y' motor efferents: 'y' motor efferents supply to the polar regions of intrafusal fibres and cause their contraction. This acts as a stretch, which stimulates both types of afferent nerve endings. These in turn cause reflex contraction of the muscle through ‘a’ motor neu- rons. Functions of Muscle Spindle 1. Participates in stretch reflex (see mechanism ofactivation of muscle spindle). 2. It has role in the regulation of muscle tone and posture. Due to coactivation of a and y motor fibres by the higher centres, the muscle spindle is always kept in active state. This reflexly adjusts the contraction of the muscle, thus maintaining the muscle tone. Since stretch reflex activation is the basis for muscle tone and posture, the muscle spindle also has role in the regulation of posture. During movements it alters the con- tractile state of the muscles especially antigravity muscle, and maintains the posture. 3, Muscle spindle also monitors the length of the muscle by a negative feedback mechanism during movements, i. when the length of the muscle increases, the muscle spin- dle decreases the muscle length and vice versa. 4. It is concemed with conscious perception of joint posi- tion and joint movement. <2 ean eHue eee Pe, STRETCH REFLEX When a skeletal muscle with an intact nerve supply is stretched, it contracts. This response is called stretch reflex, e.g., when platellar tendon is tapped with a knee hammer, it stretches the quadriceps muscle. The stretched muscle Contracts reflexly elevating the leg (called knee Jerk). The stretch reflex arc con- sists of: Receptor — Muscle spindle (intrafusal fibre) Afferent limb — Ia and II sensory nerve fibres Centre — Spinal cord Efferent limb — Motor nerve fibre Effector — Extrafusal fibres (muscle Proper) Stimulus — Stretch AWaRwnnMuscle a motor on neve fibres centre “Fig. 34-2, Stretch reflex arc Mechanism of Activation “The stimulus to elicit astretch reflex isa simple stretch, the muscle is stretched, the receptor (muscle spindle) is stimy, tated. Impulses travel through I and Il afferent nerve fibres to ‘cord and activate the motor neuron. The impulses h the efferent nerve (0 motor fibres) tothe fibres). Extrafusal muscle fibres contrac Tesulting ina shortening of the muscle. The muscle can be nade to contract either by activating the muscle spindle orby ‘otivating motor neuron that supplies to the extrafusal fibres, the spinal are relayed throug! muscle (extrafusal Types ‘The stretch reflexes are of two types: (1) the phasic stretch reflex, (2) the tonic stretch reflex. 1. Phasie stretch reflex: This is also called dynamic stretch reflex. This can be elicited by activating primary endings Of a afferents of the muscle spindle. Activation of laaffer- ent fibres from muscle spindle by stretch causes contrac- tion of the muscle that contains the muscle spindle and inhibition of the antagonist muscle. This helps in bring- ing about a movement. Thus, phasic stretch reflexes are useful in bringing about different types of movements. Usually muscle containing white muscle fibres participates inthis type of reflex. 2, Tonic stretch reflex: This is also called static streteh re- flex. This can be elicited by the activation of both primary (1a) and secondary (II) afferents from the muscle spindle ‘Activation of primary and secondary afferents froma mus- cle spindle by gravity causes steady contraction espe cially of the antigravity muscles that contain the muscle spindle, The steady contraction of the muscle is brought about by asynchronous activation of the motor units due ‘0 low level continuous stretch of the muscle brought about ity. Hence this reflex does not show adaptation and is a necessity for maintaining muscle tone and pos- ‘ture. Usually, muscle containing red muscle fibres parc! pates in this type of stretch reflex. Functions 1. Role in maintaining muscle tone: Muscle tone is depend ent on stretch reflex. 2 Role in maintenance of posture: Tonic stretch reflex mainly help in maintaining posture.31. “ voluntary Movements: This is es i ote ooth voluntary movements. Sential for bri con g avout ie — AN - a= Nairane nn Ctenar = -