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| Intrafusal muscle fiber | |
|---|---|
 A muscle spindle, with γ motor and Ia sensory fibers | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Skeletal muscle |
| Function | Proprioception |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | myofibra intrafusalis |
| TH | H3.03.00.0.00012 |
| Anatomical terms of microanatomy | |
Intrafusal muscle fibers are skeletal muscle fibers that serve as specialized sensory organs (proprioceptors).[1][2] They detect the amount and rate of change in length of a muscle.[1] They constitute the muscle spindle,[2] and are innervated by both sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) fibers.[3]
Intrafusal muscle fibers are not to be confused with extrafusal muscle fibers, which contract, generating skeletal movement and are innervated by alpha motor neurons.[4]
- ^ a b Casagrand, Janet (2008) Action and Movement: Spinal Control of Motor Units and Spinal Reflexes. University of Colorado, Boulder.
- ^ a b Falkel, LORI (January 1, 2007), Cooper, Cynthia (ed.), "Chapter 4 - Tissue-Specific Exercises for the Upper Extremity", Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, Saint Louis: Mosby, pp. 53–72, doi:10.1016/b0-32-303386-5/50007-2, ISBN 978-0-323-03386-2, retrieved December 21, 2020
- ^ Burke, David (January 1, 2014), "Fusimotor System", Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.00249-x, ISBN 978-0-12-801238-3, retrieved December 21, 2020
- ^ Johns, Paul (January 1, 2014), Johns, Paul (ed.), "Chapter 4 - Sensory and motor pathways", Clinical Neuroscience, Churchill Livingstone, pp. 49–59, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-10321-6.00004-7, ISBN 978-0-443-10321-6, retrieved December 21, 2020