Week 4 Proprioception

What is proprioception often referred to as?

The 'sixth sense'.

What is the primary brain structure mediating proprioception?

Cerebellum.

What is the difference between kinesthesia and proprioception?

Kinesthesia is the sense of body movement, while proprioception is the sense of body position.

What are the three systems that help to sense position in space?

Visual System, Vestibular System, Proprioceptive System.

What type of mechanoreceptors are joint receptors?

Mechanoreceptors located in the connective tissue of the joint capsule.

What do muscle spindles detect?

Length, tension, and load of the muscle.

What is the function of Golgi Tendon Organs (GTOs)?

Detect tension in the tendon of a contracting muscle.

What happens during the Golgi tendon reflex?

It causes the muscle to relax to prevent tearing from excessive loads.

What role do gamma motor neurons play in proprioception?

They send proprioceptive information from the CNS back to the muscle spindle.

What is the purpose of 'gamma biasing'?

To make muscle spindles more sensitive and primed for action.

How do you test proprioception?

Have the patient close their eyes and replicate the position of an affected arm with the unaffected arm.

What does the term 'autogenic excitation' refer to?

Activation of the alpha motor neuron of the agonist muscle.

What is the primary function of the cerebrobellum in proprioception?

It receives and processes proprioceptive information to inform the body of its positions and movements.

What is the primary role of afferent neurons from muscle spindles?

They carry sensory information to the central nervous system.

What are extrafusal muscle fibers responsible for?

Making up the bulk of the muscle and facilitating overall contraction.