The Golgi tendon organ is a proprioceptive sensory receptor located within muscle tendons that detects tension. It plays a crucial role in the golgi tendon reflex, which involves inhibitory signaling to relax contracted muscles and stimulate antagonistic muscles. Clinical relevance includes conditions like tendonitis, spasticity, and demyelinating disorders that affect its function and sensitivity.

1. GOLGI TENDON ORGAN
GROUP 9

2. CONTENT
1. Definition of Golgi Tendon Organ
2. Structure
3. Function
4. Golgi Tendon Reflex
5. Clinical relevance

3. INTRODUCTION
• The Golgi Tendon Organ is an encapsulated sensory receptor through
which muscle tendon fibers pass.
• It is consists of collagen fibers intertwined with the sensory nerve
ending of type 1b fibers.
• About 10-15 muscle fibers are connected with one Golgi tendon
organ.
• It has a proprioceptive function.

4. STRUCTURE

5. FUNCTION
• Tension sensing : Monitor the tension force within the muscle

6. GOLGI TENDON REFLEX

7. PATHWAY AND ACTIVITY OF REFLEX
• When a muscle contracts, the muscle tension increases. The Golgi
Tendon organ detects the muscle tension.
• Sends impulses through afferent(group 1b) fibers. It stimulates the
inhibitory interneurons.
• Release inhibitory mediator(Glycine or GABA),which inhibits alpha
motor neuron and cause relaxation of the muscle that was originally
contracted.

8. Continue….
• At the same time, due to reciprocal innervation, the antagonistic
muscles are excited. The Golgi tendon reflex, thus, displays reciprocal
innervation but lacks after discharge and radiation.

9. CLINICAL RELEVANCE
TENDONITIS AND TENDINOPATHY
• Resulted from chronic overuse or excessive loading of tendons which affect GTO
ability to sense tension by altering tendon sensitivity. E.g. athletes.. Tendon
avulsion
SPASTICITY AND HYPERTONIA
• Altered GTO function leading to increased muscle tone, difficulty in controlling
movements and exaggerated reflexes which can be caused by cerebral palsy and
upper motor neuron lesions.

10. CONTINUATION
DEMYELINATING DISORDERS
• MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: Due to loss of myelin this affects salutatory
conduction which leads to reduced speed of nerve impulse to and
from the spinal cord , this directly affects speed of reflex inhibition
response.

11. CONCLUSION
• The Golgi tendon organ is a Proprioceptive organ that senses the
degree of tension in the tendon.

12. REFRENCES
• Costanzo,L.S.,2017.Physiology. 6th
ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
• Hall,J.E,2020.Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology.14th
ed.
Philadelphia: Elsevier.