Anatomy & Physiology for Yoga Flashcards

Which of the following best describes the function of proprioceptors in the context of yoga asana?

Answer: They sense body position, muscle length, and joint angle to inform movement and balance

Proprioceptors, including muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs, continuously signal the central nervous system about limb position, muscle tension, and movement for coordination and balance.

The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) plays a key role in yoga stretching by triggering which protective response?

Answer: Autogenic inhibition, causing the contracting muscle to relax

When tension in a tendon exceeds a threshold, the GTO triggers autogenic inhibition, causing the muscle to relax—a mechanism used in PNF stretching and prolonged yoga holds.

What is the primary action of the psoas major muscle, and why is it significant in Kundalini Yoga?

Answer: It flexes the hip and connects the lumbar spine to the femur; chronic tension affects posture and the lower chakras

The psoas major flexes the hip and lumbar spine; because it attaches to lumbar vertebrae, chronic tightness tilts the pelvis, compresses lower spinal nerves, and is considered to affect the root and sacral chakras.

During Sat Kriya, the rhythmic pumping of the navel point corresponds to which physiological action?

Answer: Coordinated contraction of Mula Bandha and the transversus abdominis, creating intra-abdominal pressure changes

Sat Kriya's navel pumping engages Mula Bandha and transversus abdominis in a coordinated rhythm, cycling intra-abdominal pressure to circulate energy and stimulate the lower chakras.

Which of the following is a physiological effect of long-term regular yoga practice supported by research?

Answer: Reduction in HPA axis reactivity, leading to lower baseline cortisol levels

Research shows that sustained yoga practice down-regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reducing baseline cortisol and stress reactivity over time.

The 'stretch reflex' (myotatic reflex) can limit flexibility in yoga. Which sensory organ initiates this reflex?

Answer: Muscle spindle (intrafusal fibers) within the muscle belly

Muscle spindles detect rapid changes in muscle length and trigger the stretch reflex contraction to protect the muscle from tearing, which can limit range of motion in yoga.

In Kundalini Yoga anatomy, the Sushumna nadi runs through which anatomical structure?

Answer: The central canal of the spinal cord, from the base to the crown

The Sushumna nadi is the central energy channel that corresponds to the spinal canal, running from the base of the spine (Muladhara) to the crown (Sahasrara).