Regionalization of the stretch reflex in the human vastus medialis

摘要

Key points class="unordered" style="list-style-type:disc" id="tjp12412-list-0001">Regionalization of the stretch reflex, i.e. the notion that the activation of 1a afferents from a muscle region influences only the activation of motor units in the same region, has been demonstrated previously in animals but not in humans.Mechanical stretches applied to regions of vastus medialis as close as 10 mm apart resulted in recruitment of motor units localized topographically with respect to the location of the mechanical stretch.Stretch reflexes are regionalized in the human vastus medialis.The human spinal cord has the neuromuscular circuitry to preferentially activate motoneurones innervating muscle fibres located in different regions of the vastus medialis.