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Related Concept Videos

Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

37.0K
The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
37.0K
Joints01:20

Joints

JointsJoints are the places where two or more bones meet, allowing your body to move in many different ways. Without joints, you wouldn’t be able to bend your knees, wave your hand, or turn your head. There are different types of joints, like hinge joints (knees and elbows), ball-and-socket joints (shoulders and hips), and pivot joints (neck). Joints also include cartilage, ligaments, and fluid that help bones move smoothly and prevent them from grinding together. Learning about joints helps...
Structural Joints: Synovial Joints01:16

Structural Joints: Synovial Joints

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Synovial joints are the most common type of joint in the body. A key structural characteristic for a synovial joint is the presence of a joint cavity. This fluid-filled space is where the articulating surfaces of the bones contact each other. Also, unlike fibrous or cartilaginous joints, the articulating bone surfaces at a synovial joint are not directly connected to each other with fibrous connective tissue or cartilage. This gives the bones of a synovial joint the ability to move smoothly...
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Introduction to Special Senses01:26

Introduction to Special Senses

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Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive...
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Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

1.5K
Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
1.5K
Functional Classification of Joints01:09

Functional Classification of Joints

4.3K
Functional Classification of Joints
The functional classification of joints is determined by the amount of mobility between the adjacent bones. Joints are functionally classified as a synarthrosis or immobile joint, an amphiarthrosis or slightly moveable joint, or as a diarthrosis, a freely moveable joint. Fibrous and cartilaginous joints can be functionally classified as either synarthroses  or amphiarthroses, whereas all synovial joints are classified as diarthroses.
Synarthrosis
An...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2025

A Simple Non-invasive Method for Temporary Knockdown of Upper Limb Proprioception
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Mechanosensation and joint deformities.

Ulrich Müller1

  • 1Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 12, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Dysfunction in sensory neuron mechanosensors leads to joint contracture. This finding reveals a new mechanism underlying joint stiffness and immobility.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Mechanobiology
  • Orthopedics

Background:

  • Joint contracture, characterized by stiffness and limited range of motion, significantly impacts patient mobility and quality of life.
  • The underlying mechanisms of joint contracture are not fully understood, hindering the development of effective treatments.
  • Sensory neurons play a role in regulating joint function, but their specific contribution to contracture development is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mechanosensors in sensory neurons in the development of joint contracture.
  • To identify the specific molecular pathways involved in mechanosensor-mediated joint contracture.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a mouse model with targeted deletion of a key mechanosensor gene in sensory neurons.

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Measurement of Vibration Detection Threshold and Tactile Spatial Acuity in Human Subjects
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  • Assessed joint mobility and contracture severity using goniometry and histological analysis.
  • Investigated downstream signaling pathways in sensory neurons and joint tissues.

    • Main Results:

    • Mice lacking the specific mechanosensor in sensory neurons exhibited significantly reduced joint contracture.
    • Histological analysis revealed decreased fibrosis and inflammation in the joints of these mice.
    • Downstream signaling pathways associated with mechanotransduction were altered in the absence of the functional mechanosensor.

    Conclusions:

    • Mechanosensors in sensory neurons are critical regulators of joint contracture development.
    • Targeting these mechanosensors may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing or treating joint contracture.