Stretch Receptor Models I¿Single-Efferent Single-Afferent Innervation

Abstract
Two lumped parameter models of muscle stretch receptors are described quantitatively on the basis of experimental data from crustacean, amphibian, and mammalian muscle spindles. These models have single-efferent (input) and single-afferent (output) innervation. It is shown that these simple mechanical models can account for many of the behavioral characteristics exhibited by muscle spindle, but are inadequate for a complete model. These inadequacies are discussed. The two models are shown to be sufficiently similar in their transient and steady-state responses to be physiologically equivalent from a systems viewpoint.