MECHANOSENSITIVE AFFERENT UNITS IN THE LATERAL LIGAMENT OF THE ANKLE

We have studied the mechanosensitive afferent units in the lateral lig ament of the ankle of the cat, with reference to the causes of lateral instability after injury, using electrophysiological recording from t he lumbar dorsal rootlets. We identified 30 mechanosensitive units in the lateral ligament; 28 (93%) were located near the attachment to the fibula and calcaneus, which included low-threshold group-II units and low- and high-threshold group-III units. Our results indicate that th ere are both proprioceptors and nociceptors in the lateral ligament of the cat ankle, and confirm that afferent fibres from the lateral liga ment may contribute to the stability of the joint by regulation of pos ition and movement.