Function of muscle spindle is?
a) Movement of a limb
b) Muscle tone maintenance
c) Goal oriented muscle contraction
d) All of the above
Correct Answer - B
Ans. B. Muscle tone maintenance
[Ref Understanding of medical physiology p.138]
If a skeletal muscle is stretched, it respond by contracting.
In other words, if a muscle is stretched, it tends to become shorter
and more stiff, thereby resisting stretch.
This is because of receptor sensitive to stretch within the muscle.
Stretch receptor within a muscle is called “muscle spindles”.
Stretch reflex has two principal functions:
- To maintain muscle tone
Tone is a tendency of a muscle to resist being stretched.
Muscle tone is not only important for maintaining posture but also
facilitates locomotion and makes all voluntary movement smooth. - To make muscles respond to stretch and release.