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Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflex Activity
Marieb - Human Anatomy & Physiology 11th Edition
Marieb, Hoehn11th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874034Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMarieb, Hoehn 11th EditionCh. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflex ActivityProblem 2
Chapter 13, Problem 2

Proprioceptors include all of the following except
a. Muscle spindles
b. Tendon organs
c. Epithelial tactile complexes
d. Joint kinesthetic receptors

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the definition of proprioceptors. Proprioceptors are sensory receptors located in muscles, tendons, and joints that provide information about body position, movement, and muscle tension.
Step 2: Identify the types of proprioceptors listed in the options. Muscle spindles detect changes in muscle length, tendon organs monitor tension in tendons, and joint kinesthetic receptors sense joint position and movement.
Step 3: Recognize that epithelial tactile complexes are not proprioceptors. Instead, they are mechanoreceptors found in the skin that detect touch and pressure, making them part of the somatosensory system but not involved in proprioception.
Step 4: Compare each option to the definition of proprioceptors to determine which one does not fit the category.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is the option that is not a proprioceptor, based on the understanding of their functions and locations.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Proprioceptors

Proprioceptors are sensory receptors located in muscles, tendons, and joints that provide information about body position, movement, and muscle tension. They help maintain balance and coordinate movements by detecting changes in muscle length and tension.
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Proprioceptors

Muscle Spindles and Tendon Organs

Muscle spindles detect changes in muscle length and trigger reflexes to maintain muscle tone, while tendon organs monitor tension in tendons to prevent muscle damage. Both are key types of proprioceptors involved in sensing body position and movement.
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Epithelial Tactile Complexes

Epithelial tactile complexes, also known as Merkel discs, are mechanoreceptors found in the skin that detect light touch and pressure. Unlike proprioceptors, they are involved in tactile sensation rather than sensing body position or movement.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The large onion-shaped receptors that are found deep in the dermis and in subcutaneous tissue and that respond to deep pressure are

a. Epithelial tactile complexes

b. Lamellar corpuscles

c. Free nerve endings

d. Muscle spindles

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