HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/4/2310    most recent 00833.2002v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wilmink, R. J. H. Articles by Nichols, T. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wilmink, R. J. H. Articles by Nichols, T. R.

Distribution of Heterogenic Reflexes Among the Quadriceps and Triceps Surae Muscles of the Cat Hind Limb

Department of Physiology, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Submitted 19 September 2002; accepted in final form 18 June 2003

Neural signals from proprioceptors in muscles provide length and force-related linkages among muscles of the limbs. The functions of this network of heterogenic reflexes remain unclear. New data are reported here on the distribution and magnitudes of neural feedback among quadriceps and triceps surae muscles in the decerebrate cat. The purpose of this paper was to distinguish whether inhibitory-force feedback is directed against muscles by virtue of the motor-unit composition or articulation of the muscle. These studies were carried out using controlled stretches and measurements of the resulting force responses of individual quadriceps and triceps surae muscles. Responses were evoked over a wide range of background force levels. In agreement with earlier electrophysiological studies, excitatory length feedback strongly linked the vastus muscles, but excitatory reflexes between each vastus and rectus femoris muscles were weak. We also observed a substantial excitatory linkage from the vastus muscles to the soleus muscle. In contrast, force-related inhibition was absent in the heterogenic reflexes among the vastus muscles but strong and bidirectional between each vastus muscle and the rectus femoris muscle and between triceps surae and quadriceps muscles. We conclude that short-latency feedback in the hindlimb is organized according to muscle articulation. Length feedback within muscle groups regulates joint stiffness while interjoint length feedback may compensate for the effects of nonuniform inertial properties of the limb. Force feedback is organized to regulate coupling between joints and, along with length feedback, determine the mechanical properties of the endpoint.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. J. Kutch, A. D. Kuo, A. M. Bloch, and W. Z. Rymer Endpoint Force Fluctuations Reveal Flexible Rather Than Synergistic Patterns of Muscle Cooperation J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2008; 100(5): 2455 - 2471. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L Chmielewski, W. J Hurd, K. S Rudolph, M. J Axe, and L. Snyder-Mackler Perturbation Training Improves Knee Kinematics and Reduces Muscle Co-contraction After Complete Unilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture Physical Therapy, August 1, 2005; 85(8): 740 - 749. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]