One of a variety of sensory end organs (such as the muscle spindle and Golgi tendon organ) in muscles, tendons, and joint capsules that sense position or state of contraction.
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pro·prio·cep·tor -'sep-tər n a sensory receptor that is located deep in the tissues (as in skeletal or heart muscle, tendons, the gastrointestinal wall, or the carotid sinus) and that functions in proprioception (as in response to changes of physical tension or chemical condition within the body)
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n.
a specialized sensory nerve ending (see receptor) that monitors internal changes in the body brought about by movement and muscular activity. Proprioceptors located in muscles and tendons transmit information that is used to coordinate muscular activity (see stretch receptor, tendon organ). See also mechanoreceptor.
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pro·prio·cep·tor (pro″pre-o-sepґtər) sensory nerve terminals found in muscles, tendons, and joint capsules, which give information concerning movements and position of the body; sometimes the receptors in the labyrinth are also considered proprioceptors. See exteroceptor, interoceptor, and receptor (def. 3).Medical dictionary. 2011.