Polymorphism of feelings: how skin receptors work

Skin receptors are responsible for our ability to feel touch, heat, cold and pain. Receptors are modified nerve endings that can be either free non-specialized or encapsulated complex structures that are responsible for a certain type of sensitivity. Receptors perform a signaling role, so they are necessary for a person to effectively and safely interact with the external environment. Read more about the different types of skin receptors and their functions on estet-portal.com in this article.

The main types of skin receptors and their functions

All types of receptors can be divided into three groups. The first group of receptors is responsible for tactile sensitivity. These include the bodies of Pacini, Meissner, Merkel and Ruffini. The second group is
thermoreceptors: Krause flasks and free nerve endings. The third group includes pain receptors.

The palms and fingers are more sensitive to vibration: due to the large number of Pacini receptors in these areas.

All types of receptors have different zones in terms of the width of sensitivity, depending on the function they perform.

Skin receptors:
•    skin receptors responsible for tactile sensitivity;
•    skin receptors that respond to changes in temperature;
•    nociceptors: skin receptors responsible for pain sensitivity.

Skin receptors responsible for tactile sensitivity

There are several types of receptors responsible for tactile sensations:
•    Pacini's bodies — these are receptors that quickly adapt to changes in pressure and have wide receptive fields. These receptors are located in the subcutaneous fat and are responsible for gross sensitivity;
•    Meissner bodies are located in the dermis and have narrow reception fields, which determines their perception of fine sensitivity;
•    Merkel bodies — slowly adapt and have narrow receptor fields, in connection with which their main function — feeling of surface structure;
•    
Skin receptors that respond to changes in temperature

According to some theories, there are different types of receptors for the perception of heat and cold. Krause flasks are responsible for the perception of cold, and free nerve endings are responsible for the perception of hot. Other theories of thermoreception claim that it is the free nerve endings that are designed to sense temperature. In this case, thermal irritations are analyzed by deep nerve fibers, and cold — superficial. Between themselves, the receptors of temperature

sensitivity

form a "mosaic" consisting of cold and warm spots.

Nociceptors: skin receptors responsible for pain sensitivity

At this stage, there is no final opinion regarding the presence or absence of pain receptors. Some theories are based on the fact that free nerve endings, which are located in the skin, are responsible for the perception of pain.

Prolonged and severe pain stimulation stimulates the emergence of a stream of outward impulses, and therefore adaptation to pain slows down.

Other theories deny the presence of separate nociceptors. It is assumed that tactile and temperature receptors have a certain threshold of irritation, above which pain occurs.