How do exteroceptors, interoceptors, and proprioceptors detect different kinds of information?

Receptors are biological transducers that convert energy from the environment into electrical impulses, allowing animals to detect and respond to stimuli. They are classified based on the source of the information they report:12

• Exteroceptors: These report on the external environment. They facilitate senses such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.1
• Interoceptors: These sample the internal environment of the body. They monitor conditions such as blood pressure, osmotic pressure, and the state of internal organs like the bladder and alimentary canal.12
• Proprioceptors: These sense the posture and movements of the body. They provide information about the position of limbs, the length of muscles, and the position of joints.12

While these categories are distinct, some receptors serve dual roles. For example, certain proprioceptors can act as exteroceptors when they function as gravity detectors, providing information about the body's orientation in space. The nervous system determines the location and intensity of these stimuli by analyzing the frequency of nerve impulses and the specific arrangement of receptive fields.31