PROPRIOCEPTOR Meaning and
Definition
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A proprioceptor refers to a sensory receptor responsible for detecting and transmitting information about the position and movement of different parts of the body to the central nervous system. It plays a crucial role in proprioception, which is the sense that allows individuals to be aware of and perceive the orientation, position, and movement of their body without relying solely on visual cues.
These specialized sensory receptors are primarily located in muscles, tendons, and joints throughout the body. They provide the brain with valuable feedback about the length and tension in muscles, the degree of flexion or extension in joints, and the rate and direction of movement in different body parts. This information is vital for maintaining balance, coordinating movements, and executing precise motor tasks.
Proprioceptors utilize mechanoreceptors to sense physical forces like stretch, compression, and pressure. The most common types of proprioceptors include muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, and joint receptors. Muscle spindles detect changes in muscle length and contribute to stretch reflexes, while golgi tendon organs sense tension in tendons and provide information about muscle force generation. Joint receptors are located in the joint tissues and respond to changes in joint position and movement.
Overall, proprioceptors play a fundamental role in the body's control of movement and coordination. They allow individuals to have a profound sense of body awareness and enable skilled movements required for activities such as walking, running, and manipulating objects.
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One of the peripheral end-organs of the afferent nerves in the deeper structures, such as the muscles, tendons, joints, etc.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PROPRIOCEPTOR
- oroprioceptor
- lroprioceptor
- -roprioceptor
- 0roprioceptor
- peoprioceptor
- pdoprioceptor
- pfoprioceptor
- ptoprioceptor
- p5oprioceptor
- p4oprioceptor
- priprioceptor
- prkprioceptor
- prlprioceptor
- prpprioceptor
- pr0prioceptor
- pr9prioceptor
- proorioceptor
- prolrioceptor
- pro-rioceptor
Etymology of PROPRIOCEPTOR
The word proprioceptor was coined in the early 20th century, combining two Latin roots: proprius, meaning one's own, and ceptum, meaning taken. In this context, proprio refers to a sense of body position and movement, while ceptor refers to a sensory receptor. Therefore, proprioceptor can literally be translated as receptor that captures/registers one's own (position and movement).
Similar spelling words for PROPRIOCEPTOR
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