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Proprioception

by Laura Inverarity, D.O.
for About.com

Updated December 30, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: Proprioception is the medical term that describes the ability to sense the orientation of ones arms or legs in the air.

The way that we can tell that an arm is raised above our head, even when our eyes are closed, is an example of proprioception.

Proprioception comes from sensory nerve endings that provide our brain with the information of the limb position.

Pronunciation: pro¡¤prio¡¤cep¡¤tion (pr¨­¡äpr¨¥ ə sep¡äs/hən)
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