Question:medium
Joint position sense and vibration sense are carried by which type of nerve fibre?
Joint position sense and vibration sense are carried by which type of nerve fibre?
Show Hint
Proprioception and vibration use the largest, fastest myelinated somatic afferents.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- A alpha
- A beta
- A gamma
- B
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Match the modality to the fibre size. Conscious proprioception and vibration are fine, high-fidelity senses that demand the fastest conduction, so they ride the largest myelinated axons.
Step 2: The largest, fastest somatic afferents are A alpha fibres (groups Ia and Ib). They relay impulses from muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs, and the receptors serving position and vibration sense up the dorsal columns.
Step 3: Rule out the others: A beta serves touch and pressure, A gamma is an efferent supply to muscle spindles, and B fibres are thin preganglionic autonomic fibres. None of these carry proprioception or vibration.
\[\boxed{A\ alpha}\]
Step 2: The largest, fastest somatic afferents are A alpha fibres (groups Ia and Ib). They relay impulses from muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs, and the receptors serving position and vibration sense up the dorsal columns.
Step 3: Rule out the others: A beta serves touch and pressure, A gamma is an efferent supply to muscle spindles, and B fibres are thin preganglionic autonomic fibres. None of these carry proprioception or vibration.
\[\boxed{A\ alpha}\]
Was this answer helpful?
0
