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An audiovisual teaching model of the muscle spindle
Author(s) -
BROWN A. W. S.,
HARRISON F. G.,
LAB M. J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.1979.tb00912.x
Subject(s) - neurophysiology , muscle contraction , computer science , neuroscience , contraction (grammar) , representation (politics) , loudspeaker , muscle spindle , anatomy , cognitive science , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , human–computer interaction , medicine , physics , acoustics , politics , political science , law , afferent
Summary Students in biology and medicine often have difficulty in visualizing the structure, function and disease of complex integrated body systems. One example in neurophysiology is the muscle spindle and Golgi tendon organ. A model is described which demonstrates the properties of these two muscle receptors. The model combines mechanical elements, which can change their length to represent muscle contraction, with an electronic representation of the passage of action potentials along ‘nerves’, indicated by light‐emitting diodes and loudspeakers. The model has been in use for some years as a supplement to conventional teaching methods. In a recent questionnaire about the model, a group of medical students responded favourably. We suggest that models such as this are valuable teaching aids.