Scribd
Upload
885 views14 pages

Articular Neurology

Mechanoreceptors in joints transmit information about joint status to the central nervous system. There are four main types of mechanoreceptors: Type I (Ruffini endings) sense static and dynamic joint position; Type II (Pacinian corpuscles) sense acceleration/deceleration; Type III (Golgi tendon organ-like endings) monitor movement direction; Type IV (free nerve endings) are pain-provoking when tissue is deformed or subjected to noxious stimulation. Mechanoreceptors help protect joints by avoiding pathological movement, balancing muscle forces, and generating body awareness.

Uploaded by

kinj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
885 views14 pages

Articular Neurology

Mechanoreceptors in joints transmit information about joint status to the central nervous system. There are four main types of mechanoreceptors: Type I (Ruffini endings) sense static and dynamic joint position; Type II (Pacinian corpuscles) sense acceleration/deceleration; Type III (Golgi tendon organ-like endings) monitor movement direction; Type IV (free nerve endings) are pain-provoking when tissue is deformed or subjected to noxious stimulation. Mechanoreceptors help protect joints by avoiding pathological movement, balancing muscle forces, and generating body awareness.

Uploaded by

kinj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

Articular Neurology

Neuronal Receptors
• Sense organs have 3 major forms
• The ones relevant to articular neurology are
neuronal receptors
• They are sensory neurons whose end is the
sensory terminal
• All cutaneous sensors and proprioceptors are
probably of this type
Mechanoreceptors
• Receptors are classified in several ways; e.g. by
the specific energy forms to which they are
especially sensitive
• Mechanoreceptors are responsive to
deformation (touch, pressure, sound waves
etc.)
• Mechanoreceptors are responsible for
transmitting information about the joint status
to the central nervous system
Role of Mechanoreceptors
They protect the joint from injury in 3 ways:
• Avoid movement of the joint in the pathologic
range
• Help balancing the activity between
synergistic and antagonistic muscle forces
• Generate an image of body position and
movement within the central nervous system
Type I mechanoreceptors
• Ruffini receptor endings
• Thinly myelinated
• Located in superficial layer of joint
capsule.
• Function: informs about static and
dynamic position of the joint,
contributes to the regulation of
postural muscle tone and kinesthetic
sense.
• More active for ends of range
• Pain inhibiting
Type II mechanoreceptors
• Pacinian corpuscles.
• Location: Sparse, found in deeper
layers of capsules and ligaments.
• Function: informs about acceleration
and deceleration of joint movement.
• Act at initiation of movement to
overcome inertia.
• Not active in mid range of
movement
• Pain inhibiting.
Type III mechanoreceptors
• Golgi tendon organ-like endings
• Location: in intrinsic and extrinsic joint
ligaments and superficial layers of the capsule,
but not in ALL, PLL and ISL
• Function: reflex inhibition of muscle tone,
monitors direction of movement
Discharge only when:
• Joint is placed at endrange
• Axial traction is applied
• Joint is manipulated
• Forces are in kg’s, not in grams
Type IV mechanoreceptors
• Free, non-capsulated nerve endings
• Unmyelinated or very thinly myelinated
• Seen in hypoxic or ischemic tissue and inflammatory
exudates
• Function: active only when related tissue is subjected
to marked deformation or noxious stimulation
• Pain provoking
• Non adapting
• High threshold
Located in
• Joint capsules
• Fat
• Blood vessels
• Anterior dura mater
• Ligaments
• Connective tissue
Not found in
• Hyaline cartilage
• Synovial tissue
• Blood vessels in the brain
Stimulated by
• Histamine
• Lactic acid
• Substance P
• Bradykinins
• Potassium ions
• Prostaglandin
Factors causing mechanoreceptor death

• Immobilization
• Trauma
• Age
• Spondylosis
• Infection 
Regeneration
• A degree of regeneration possible
• Lots of repetitions, rhythmic stabilization, and
self-mobilizations will activate
mechanoreceptors without putting undue
stress on the damaged tissue

You might also like