Proprioception

Muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs, joint receptors and the vestibule: knowing where the body is without looking.

The outline, topic by topic

Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.

Proprioception: what is it?
Show the answer
The sense of the position and movement of one's own body.
It lets one touch one's nose with eyes closed.
After an ankle sprain, a player turns the ankle again on uneven ground. What to train?
- Proprioception, on a wobble board
- Maximal strength alone
- Running speed
- Hamstring flexibility
Show the answer
Proprioception, on a wobble board
Damaged receptors inform poorly: they must be retrained.
Muscle spindle: what is it?
Show the answer
A receptor inside the muscle sensing its length and how fast it stretches.
It triggers the stretch reflex.
Why is standing on one foot harder with eyes closed?
- The vestibular system needs light to work
- One of the three sources of balance information is lost
- The muscle spindles go to sleep
- The cerebellum no longer receives any input
Show the answer
One of the three sources of balance information is lost
Vision, the vestibular system and proprioception complete each other: without sight, the other two must make up for it alone.
Golgi tendon organ: what is it?
Show the answer
A receptor at the muscle-tendon junction sensing tension.
It triggers the inverse stretch reflex.