Final answer:
The nervous system gathers information on muscle tension from Golgi tendon organs, which help prevent over-contraction and muscle tears by providing feedback to the central nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nervous system receives information about the amount of tension that muscles are exerting on their tendons from Golgi tendon organs. These specialized sensory receptors are crucial for the proprioceptive system, which provides the brain with information about the positions of limbs and the amount of force being exerted by muscles. The muscle spindles are related stretch receptors that detect changes in muscle length. Together, these receptors play a pivotal role in maintaining posture, balance, and coordinating smooth and agile movements.
The information from the Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindles travels through the sensory-somatic nervous system to the central nervous system, enabling the brain and spinal cord to respond accordingly. Through this feedback system, over-contraction of muscles can be prevented, and muscle tearing during activities is minimized. These mechanoreceptors, therefore, ensure the body's movements are controlled and intentional.