title: Morphometric study of the human muscle spindle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the morphometric characteristics of the human muscle spindle in normal muscle and to investigate the influence of aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following variables were studied in 72 spindles: area and diameter of the spindle; thickness of the capsule; number, area and diameter of fibers; and number and area of nuclei.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In deltoid and extensor digitorum brevis muscles, a reduction in the diameter of the spindle as a function of age was found, while no statistically significant change in the variables as a function of age was observed in the quadriceps femoris and biceps muscles. In the deltoid, a reduction in the number of fibers and an increase in their diameter were also observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings could prove useful in the study of the spindle in relation to disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Athens National University, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece. ekarariz@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kararizou
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalfakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vassilopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009470:Muscle Spindles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology