Final answer:
Proprioceptors are specialized sensory receptors categorized as nerves, with the muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs being key types that provide the brain with information about body position and movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proprioceptors are specialized sensory receptors located in our muscles, tendons, and joints. They provide critical information about our body's position and movement, helping us move smoothly and maintain balance. When it comes to limb position and joint movements, proprioceptors fall into the category of nerves. Notably, the muscle spindles are proprioceptors found within the muscles that detect changes in muscle length. Another type, the Golgi tendon organs, are located in tendons and sense the tension that occurs during muscle contraction. These receptors transmit information to the brain, which then helps coordinate muscle movements to maintain posture and balance. These proprioceptive signals are critical for unconscious coordination of movement and are primarily processed by the cerebellum, an area of the brain responsible for motor control, rather than the thalamus, which processes most other sensory information. This system of proprioceptors is what enables us to know where our limbs are without looking at them and to perform complex tasks that require fine motor skills.