Sensory Receptors
Sensory Receptors
- Enable to detect environmental changes.
- Often located in sensory organs such as the ear and eye, but also common in the skin of the hands, feet, genitals and nipples.
- Convert detected stimulus into a nerve impulse which is then passed through the CNS to an effector, which responds to the stimulus.
- There are two main features of sensory receptors:
- They are specific to a certain type of stimulus.
- They act as a transducer, converting the stimulus into an impulse.
- As a transducer, a sensory receptor creates a generator potential.
Type of Receptor |
Stimulus |
Example Receptor |
Example Organ |
Mechanoreceptor |
Pressure and Movement |
Pacinian Corpuscle |
Skin |
Chemoreceptor |
Chemicals |
Olfactory receptor |
Nose |
Value |
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Pacinian Corpuscle
- Specific receptors which detect mechanical pressure.
- Abundant deep within the skin of the hands and feet, but can also be found all over the body particularly in sense organs, and even in joints to allow you to know which joints are changing direction.
- The end of the sensory neuron is found deep within the centre of the corpuscle.