Which receptors monitor the position and movement of skeletal muscles and joints?

• A. Interoceptors
• B. Exteroceptors
• C. Mechanoreceptors
• D. Proprioceptors

Answer: (D)

Position and movement of the body are detected by proprioceptors, specialized mechanoreceptors found in skeletal muscles, tendons, and joint capsules. They include muscle spindles (which sense muscle length and the rate of length change), Golgi tendon organs (which sense tension), and joint capsule receptors (which monitor angle and movement at joints). These receptors continuously send information about where your limbs are and how they’re moving to the brain, even with eyes closed, enabling you to maintain posture, coordinate movements, and execute smooth motor tasks.

Interoceptors monitor internal conditions inside the body (like temperature or pH), exteroceptors detect stimuli from the external environment (such as touch or light), and mechanoreceptors is a broad category that includes proprioceptors among other receptors that respond to mechanical energy.