Figure 1

A schematic representation of the experimental preparation. The cranial rib of the isolated rib space is fixed to a rigid clamp. The caudal rib is connected to the electromagnetic displacement motor. The receptive field locations of the intercostal muscle mechanoreceptors are shown. The 1° muscle spindles are represented by the open circles. The 2° muscle spindles by the closed circles, the Golgi tendon organs by the open squares, and the uncharacterized mechanoreceptors by the closed squares. A total of 56 mechanoreceptors in 35 cats were found.