Mechanoreceptors and their Functions

Mechanoreceptors refer to sensory receptors that sense mechanical changes in the body such as pressure, vibration, stretching or distortion. Mechanoreceptors may be encapsulated or unencapsulated receptors. Pacinian corpuscles, Meissner's corpuscles and Ruffini's corpuscles are encapsulated while Merkel's disk and free nerve endings are unencapsulated mechanoreceptors.

Important mechanoreceptors with their properties are listed below in the table.

Mechanoreceptor	Description	Sensation carried	Adaptation
Pacinian Corpuscle	Onion like structure; lies in subcutaneous tissue; Encapsulated	Vibration; tapping	Rapidly adapting
Meissner’s Corpuscle	Present in non-hairy skin; Encapsulated	Velocity	Rapidly adapting
Ruffini’s Corpuscle (Bulbous Corpuscle)	Spindle shaped; Encapsulated	Pressure; skin stretch	Slowly adapting
Merkel’s Disk	Transducer lies on epithelial cells; Unencapsulated	Location; two-point discrimination	Slowly adapting
Free Nerve Endings	Resemble fine plant roots; Unecapsulated	Pain	Different rate of adaptation

 

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Keywords: Mechanorecptors, Sensory receptors, Pacinian corpuscles, Meissner's corpuscles, Ruffini's corpuscles, Merkel's disk, Free nerve endings