Final answer:
Excitation of the Golgi tendon organ typically induces muscle relaxation as a protective reflex to prevent potential damage from excessive muscle contraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Golgi tendon organ is a proprioceptive sensory receptor organ that is situated at the junctions of muscles and tendons. Its role is to monitor and respond to changes in muscle tension. When a muscle contracts, it generates tension which is transmitted through the tendons and detected by the Golgi tendon organs. Upon detection, the Golgi tendon organs send inhibitory signals to the spinal cord, which subsequently sends signals to the muscle to relax. This is a protective mechanism known as the inverse myotatic reflex, which prevents the muscles from contracting with excessive force that could potentially cause tendon or muscle damage.
So, the excitation of the Golgi tendon organ normally induces muscle relaxation to protect the muscle from excessive tension. This response counteracts the contraction triggered by the muscle spindle, which wants to keep the muscle active during stretching.