About Us
Online Courses
CSCS Prep Movement Assessment 101 Program Design 101
Free Resources
Free Resources Blog CSCS Facebook Study Group
Programs
Hybrid Athlete Team Strength & Hypertrophy Program Vertical Jump Program Cricket Program

CSCS Muscle Spindles vs. Golgi Tendon Organs

Jul 07, 2022

Edited by: Danielle Abel

What the heck is the difference between muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs?

The biggest difference between muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs (GTOs) is that spindles are located in the muscle and GTOs are located within the tendon.

  • Muscle = spindle
  • Golgi = tendon. 

Muscle spindles are small muscle fibers (intrafusal fibers) within the contractile muscles of the muscle fiber itself that are sensory, meaning they communicate back to the spinal cord and brain through nerves and then back to the same muscle to communication information about the muscle stretching. Muscle spindles are "hidden" within the contractile fibers (the actin & myosin) of the muscle. 

Muscle Spindles:

  • sense muscle stretch
  • cause muscle activation
  • facilitates muscle movement

For example in a baseball pitch in the lay-back phase (pulling the arm back behind the head) the muscle spindles sense the stretch and cause the muscle contraction. 

Golgi Tendon Organ

The golgi tendon organ is not within the muscle like the spindles; it is situated inside the tendon. The tendon is the tissue that connects the muscle to the bone. There are thousands of these GTOs inside the tendon. 

  • they sense tension within the tendon 
  • causes muscle inhibition
  • prevents overstretching of the muscle and facilitates relaxation

Support & Courses Available

Ready for more support to help you prep for the CSCS exam? Join our Facebook Group, “Strength and Conditioning Study Group,” here. Ready for even more? Our 24-module CSCS Prep Course has exercise physiology concepts like this one completely laid out for you with even more content than what we’ve provided here, plus chapter quizzes to help you pass the NSCA exam; click the link here to check it out.

 

 

 

Stay connected with news and updates!

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.

We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.

Categories

All Categories #biomechanics #calories #hiit #liftingtechnique #power #programming #strength #vo2max % of 1rm 6 pack abs abs aerobic power aging anabolic anabolism anatomy baseball bioenergetics bracket training breathing calorie deficit calories cardio coaching coaching certification coaching cues complex sets compound sets core core stability cricket crosstraining cscs cscs prep dexa dexa and strength dexa and training dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry dynamic balance electrolytes endurance training energy balance energy storage energy systems exam prep exercise form exercise selection fat burning fat burning zone fat loss foot force velocity curve functional fitness glycogen hamstring exercises hamstring hypertrophy high intensity hip hip extension hip internal rotation hip rotation hormones hypertrophy intensity intra workout lean body mass macros maximal strength mechanical advantage metabolism mobility moment arm motor learning motor pattern muscle muscle activation muscle growth muscle physiology muscle protein synthesis muscles for running muscular power nervous system nutrition outdoor running parasympathetic performance post workout power pre workout program design programming programming with dexa results rate of force development residual training adaptations residual training effect return to run rotator cuff activation rotator cuff strength running running gait running nutrition running outdoors running tips running zones stability strength strength and conditioning strength coach strength program stretching for runners tapering toning torque training adaptations training for power training for running training for strength training variables volume zone 2 training zone 3 training