Part 11 · Neurophysiology II — Motor Control, Autonomic and Higher Functions

119. Golgi Tendon Organ, Withdrawal Reflexes, Renshaw Inhibition, Clonus, Babinski and Cord Transection

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Circuit	Receptor/afferent	Synapses	Effect
Golgi tendon organ (Ib)	in series with tendon; force	disynaptic (Ib inhibitory interneuron)	autogenic inhibition of homonymous α; reversed to excitation during locomotion stance
Withdrawal (flexor) reflex	nociceptors, FRA (flexor reflex afferents)	polysynaptic, multisegmental	ipsilateral flexion, extensor inhibition
Crossed extension	same	commissural interneurons	contralateral extension for support
Renshaw (recurrent) inhibition	α motor axon collateral (ACh, nicotinic)	Renshaw cell (glycine)	negative feedback on α and Ia inhibitory interneurons; focuses motor output
Clasp‑knife	group II and III afferents (not mainly Ib, as once taught)		sudden release of resistance during stretch of a spastic limb
Central pattern generators		spinal interneuron networks	rhythmic stepping

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Circuit

Receptor/afferent

Synapses

Effect

Golgi tendon organ (Ib)

in series with tendon; force

disynaptic (Ib inhibitory interneuron)

autogenic inhibition of homonymous α; reversed to excitation during locomotion stance

Withdrawal (flexor) reflex

nociceptors, FRA (flexor reflex afferents)

polysynaptic, multisegmental

ipsilateral flexion, extensor inhibition

Crossed extension

same

commissural interneurons

contralateral extension for support

Renshaw (recurrent) inhibition

α motor axon collateral (ACh, nicotinic)

Renshaw cell (glycine)

negative feedback on α and Ia inhibitory interneurons; focuses motor output

Clasp‑knife

group II and III afferents (not mainly Ib, as once taught)

sudden release of resistance during stretch of a spastic limb

Central pattern generators

spinal interneuron networks

rhythmic stepping