Final answer:
Proprioception is the awareness of one's position and movement of skeletal muscles and joints. It is central to balance and coordination and involves sensory information from muscles, tendons, and joints processed by the brain and cerebellum.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proprioception is a. the awareness of one's position and movement of skeletal muscles and joints. This sense of the self is integral to our ability to move and orient ourselves in space.
Proprioception involves the brain receiving information from sensory organs that include muscles, tendons, and joint capsules. The Romberg test is an example of an assessment that focuses on proprioceptive capabilities, wherein a patient must maintain balance without visual input, relying solely on their proprioceptive senses. This sensory information travels through the spinal column to several cortical regions and the cerebellum. Issues with proprioception can lead to problems with balance and coordination.
The spinal accessory nerve and spinal nerve are examples of neural pathways that contribute to proprioceptive sensation. Somatosensation, which encompasses touch, proprioception, and interoception, includes various sensory modalities processed by receptors throughout the body.