Final answer:
Muscle spindles are stretch receptors that detect muscle lengthening. They are part of the proprioceptive system and help maintain muscle length through a stretch reflex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muscle spindles are stretch receptors that detect the amount of stretch, or lengthening of muscles. They are a type of proprioceptive receptor, which provides information about the position and movement of the body. When a muscle is stretched, the muscle spindle sends signals to the spinal cord, which then initiates a stretch reflex to contract the muscle and maintain its length.