Download Senses in the Skin

Senses in the Skin
Senses in the Skin
• There are several different types of
sensory nerve endings in the skin
• These endings are called receptors
because they are the parts of the nervous
system from which information is received
• The receptors are named according to
their function
Touch Receptors (Meissner’s
corpuscles)
• Located immediately
below the epidermis
• Most numerous in
the tongue and
fingers
• They are stimulated
by light pressure on
the skin
• Allow a person to distinguish between
rough, smooth, hard and soft
• A different touch receptor detects hair
movement
Pressure Receptors (Pacinian
corpuscle)
• Located beneath the dermis
• Stimulated by heavy pressure
Pain Receptors (Nociceptor)
• Located in the epidermis and dermis
• Evenly distributed throughout the skin
• They occur almost everywhere throughout
the body except the brain
– This is why we can be awake during brain
surgery and still feel sensation, but no pain
Temperature Receptors
(thermoreceptors)
• There are separate hot and cold
receptors
• They are stimulated by sudden
changes in temperature
Sweat Glands
•
Adults have over 2 million sweat glands
•
There are two types:
1. The first kind is found everywhere on
the body except on the lips. They
produce a watery solution of salt and
urea which evaporates from the skin
and cools the body
2. The second kind is found under the
arms and in the groin area. They
produce a thicker liquid. The bacteria
on your skin feed off this and produce
substances that stink!