Mechanoreceptors in the human elbow ligaments

Ligaments: a source of work-related musculoskeletal disorders

“…Anatomical studies demonstrate that ligaments in the extremity joints and the spine are endowed with mechanoreceptors consisting of: Pancinian, Golgi, Ruffini and bare nerve endings [6,15,18,22,23,28,43,50,51,53,54,60,61,63,68,87,88,90]. The presence of such afferents in the ligaments confirms that they contribute to proprioception and kinesthesia and may also have a distinct role in reflex activation or inhibition of muscular activities.…”

Ligaments: A source of musculoskeletal disorders

“…Anatomical studies demonstrate that ligaments in the extremity joints and the spine are endowed with mechanoreceptors consisting of: Pancinian, Golgi, Ruffini and bare nerve endings (Burgess and Clark, 1969;Freeman and Wyke, 1967a, b;Gardner, 1944;Guanche et al, 1995;Halata et al, 1985;Jackson et al, 1966;Mountcastle, 1974;Petrie et al, 1998Petrie et al, , 1997Polacek, 1966;Proske et al, 1988;Schulz et al, 1984;Sjölander, 1989;Skoglund, 1956;Solomonow et al, 1996;Wyke, 1981;Yahia and Newman, 1991;Zimney and Wink, 1991). The presence of such afferents in the ligaments confirms that they contribute to proprioception and kinesthesia and may also have a distinct role in reflex activation or inhibition of muscular activities.…”

Sensory – Motor control of ligaments and associated neuromuscular disorders

“…Over the following years we have been able to demonstrate that mechanoreceptors exist in the ligaments of the major joints (Guanche et al, 1999;Solomonow et al, 1996;Petrie et al, 1997Petrie et al, , 1998 and that a reflex arc could be elicited by either electrically stimulating the articular nerve emerging from the ligaments or applying tension directly to the ligaments. Mechanoreceptors and a reflex arc were demonstrated in the knee, elbow, shoulder, ankle, palmar wrist, and lumbar spine as shown in Figs.…”