Golgi tendon organ

Golgi tendon organ
Labeled diagram of Golgi tendon organ from the human Achilles tendon.
Details
SystemMusculoskeletal system
LocationSkeletal muscle
Identifiers
Latinorganum sensorium tendinis
THH3.03.00.0.00024
Anatomical terms of microanatomy

The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) (also called Golgi organ, tendon organ, neurotendinous organ or neurotendinous spindle) is a proprioceptor – a type of sensory receptor that senses changes in muscle tension. It lies at the interface between a muscle and its tendon known as the musculotendinous junction also known as the myotendinous junction.[1] It provides the sensory component of the Golgi tendon reflex.

The Golgi tendon organ is one of several eponymous terms named after the Italian physician Camillo Golgi.

  1. ^ MacIntosh, Brian R. (2006). Skeletal muscle : form and function (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. pp. 48–49. ISBN 0736045171.