Final answer:
Golgi tendon organs sense tension in muscles, while muscle spindles detect the length or stretch of muscles. These mechanoreceptors help in muscle coordination and protection by sending proprioceptive signals to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to your question about how Golgi tendon mechanoreceptors differ from spindle mechanoreceptors is b) Golgi tendon organs sense tension, spindles sense muscle length. Muscle spindles operate as stretch receptors that determine the degree of stretch or lengthening of muscles, which is essential for proprioception and for protecting the muscle from being stretched too far. In contrast, Golgi tendon organs are sensitive to the tension produced by muscle contraction, monitoring the force to prevent damage from excessive force.