Abstract
THE impulse response of the muscle spindle to an applied stretch consists of a dynamic discharge during the phase of increase in length, followed by a static discharge while stretch is maintained at a steady level1–3. The underlying receptor potential shows corresponding characteristics : a rapid dynamic rise followed by a decay to a static level (Fig. 1)2,4. This differentiation of the response into two separate components may be explained as the result of structural differences between the central and the polar zones of the intrafusal muscle fibres1,5–7. The dynamic component would arise in the central zone, which seems to be the more elastic, while the static phase of the response would be generated in the more viscous polar regions. At present there is, however, no direct evidence for a mechanical differentiation of the response.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Matthews, B. H. C., J. Physiol., 71, 64 (1931).
Katz, B., J. Physiol., 111, 261 (1950).
Shepherd, G. M., and Ottoson, D., Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol., 30, 95 (1965).
Ottoson, D. & Shepherd, G. M., Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol., 30, 105 (1965).
Katz, B., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 243, 221 (1961).
Matthews, P. B. C., Physiol. Rev., 44, 219 (1964).
Wendler, L., Z. Vergl. Physiol., 47, 279 (1963).
Toyama, K., Jap. J. Physiol., 16, 113 (1964).
Brown, M. C., & Stein, R. B., Kybernetik, 3, 175 (1966).
Jahn, S. A. A., Acta Physiol. Scand., 72, 441 (1968).
Karlsson, U., Andersson-Cedergren, E., and Ottoson, D., J. Ultrastruct. Res., 14, 1 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
OTTOSON, D., SHEPHERD, G. Changes of Length within the Frog Muscle Spindle during Stretch as shown by Stroboscopic Photomicroscopy. Nature 220, 912–914 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/220912a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/220912a0
This article is cited by
-
Mechanical properties of muscle spindles in Xenopus laevis
Kybernetik (1974)
-
Systems analysis of biological receptors
Kybernetik (1973)
-
Changes in muscle spindle activity of the chronically de-efferented gastrocnemius of the rat
Pfl�gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology (1973)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.