Golgi tendon organ

The Golgi tendon organ is a spindle-shaped sensory receptor located within a tendon, close to its attachment to a muscle. These organs are proprioceptors, meaning they provide information about the body's internal state, specifically regarding the tension in tendons.12

While less sensitive than muscle spindles, tendon organs respond to stretch. They do not generate impulses under the normal resting tension of a muscle. When stimulated by stretch, whether from active muscle contraction or passive external forces, these receptors signal the intensity of the stretch. This response leads to the relaxation of the attached muscle and can help prevent anatomical damage. It's important to note that human awareness of posture and movement, known as kinesthetic sensations, is not primarily attributed to tendon organs but rather to receptors in joint capsules and skin stretch receptors.2