muscle spindle

muscle spindle
muscle spindle n a sensory end organ in a muscle that is sensitive to stretch in the muscle, consists of small striated muscle fibers richly supplied with nerve fibers, and is enclosed in a connective tissue sheath called also stretch receptor

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a specialized receptor, sensitive to stretch, that is embedded between and parallel to the fibres of striated muscles. These receptors are important for coordinated muscular movement. See also stretch receptor.

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a fusiform end organ found between skeletal muscle fibers and acting as a mechanoreceptor; the muscle spindles are arranged in parallel with muscle fibers, and respond to passive stretch of the muscle but cease to discharge if the muscle contracts isotonically, thus signaling muscle length. The muscle spindle is the receptor responsible for the stretch or myotatic reflex. Called also neuromuscular s.

Diagrammatic cross-section of a muscle spindle showing the intrafusal fibers and afferent and efferent endings.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Muscle spindle — Latin fusus neuromuscularis Code TH H3.11.06.0.00018 Muscle spindles are sensory receptors within the belly of a muscle, which primarily detect changes in the length of this muscle. They convey length information to the central nervous system via …   Wikipedia

  • muscle spindle — noun : a proprioceptive sensory end organ in a muscle consisting of small striated muscle fibers richly supplied with nerve endings and enclosed in a connective tissue sheath * * * Cell Biol. a proprioceptor in skeletal muscle, composed of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • muscle spindle — A specialized muscle fibre found in tetrapod vertebrates. A bundle of muscle fibres is innervated by sensory neurons. Stretching the muscle causes the neurons to fire; the muscle spindle thus functions as a stretch receptor …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • muscle spindle — noun Date: 1894 a sensory end organ in a muscle that is sensitive to stretch in the muscle, consists of small striated muscle fibers richly supplied with nerve fibers, and is enclosed in a connective tissue sheath called also stretch receptor …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • muscle spindle — Cell Biol. a proprioceptor in skeletal muscle, composed of striated muscle fibers and sensory nerve endings in a connective tissue sheath, that conveys information via the spinal nerves on the state of muscle stretch, important in the reflex… …   Universalium

  • muscle spindle — mus′cle spin dle n. cbl a proprioceptor in skeletal muscle, composed of muscle fibers and nerve endings, that conveys information on the state of muscle stretch Also called stretch receptor • Etymology: 1890–95 …   From formal English to slang

  • muscle spindle — a specialized receptor, sensitive to stretch, that is embedded between and parallel to the fibres of striated muscles. These receptors are important for coordinated muscular movement. See also: stretch receptor …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Spindle — may refer to:In technology*See also: Axle *A spindle is part of an automobile suspension system. It carries the hub for the wheel and attaches to the upper and lower control arms. *A spindle is part of a bicycle pedal. It carries the pedal body,… …   Wikipedia

  • Muscle fascicle — Structure of a skeletal muscle. (Fascicle labeled at bottom right.) Latin fasiculus muscularis Gray s …   Wikipedia

  • spindle — In anatomy and pathology, any fusiform cell or structure. [A.S.] aortic s. a fusiform dilation of the aorta immediately beyond the isthmus. SYN: His s.. central s. a central group of microtubules (continuous fib …   Medical dictionary

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