Proprioception

Proprioception is the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement. It is sometimes described as the "sixth sense".

Proprioception is coordinated by proprioceptors in skeletal striated muscles and in joints. It is distinguished from exteroception, by which one perceives the outside world, and interoception, by which one perceives pain, hunger, etc., and the movement of internal organs. The brain integrates information from proprioception and from the vestibular system into its overall sense of body position, movement, and acceleration.

History

The term "proprioception" was coined in 1906 by Charles Scott Sherrington, who used it to describe the sensory information that contributes to the sense of position of one's body parts. Sherrington discussed the proprioceptive reflexes of the body and how they were coordinated by the brain and spinal cord.

Mechanism

Proprioception is mediated by proprioceptors, mechanosensory neurons located within muscles, tendons, and joints. There are several types of proprioceptors, which provide the brain with information about changes in muscle length and tension, joint angle, and joint pressure.

Clinical significance

Impaired proprioception is a feature of certain neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and stroke. It can also be affected by age and by certain types of injury, particularly those involving damage to the muscles, tendons, or joints.

See also

• Kinesthesia
• Equilibrioception
• Sense
• Sensory system

References

Proprioception Resources
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