6a. Cutaneous Receptors Flashcards
Accessory Structures
- 5 Functions
- Protection
- Conduction
- Concentration
- Analysis
- Sensitisation or inhibition
Cutaneous Receptors
- 2 Types
- Encapsulated nerve endings
- Non-encapsulated nerve endings
Encapsulated Nerve Endings
- 4 Types
Slowly adapting type I afferents:
- Merkel cells
Slowly adapting type II afferents:
- Ruffini endings
Rapidly adapting type I afferents:
- Meissner’s corpuscles
Rapidly adapting type II afferents:
- Pacinian corpuscles
Mechanotransduction
- 3 Theories
Ion channels are opened by:
- Changes in lipid tension
- Movement of structural proteins linked to the channel
- Structural protein linked by a 2nd messenger cascade
Temporal Discharge Patterns
Rapidly adapting receptors only generate action potentials at the onset of the stimulus.
Slowly adapting receptors produce tonic action potential discharge in response to a steady stimulus.
Provides stimulus frequency information.
Phase-Locking
Provides stimulus frequency information
Rapidly adapting receptor gives a single action potential for each [phase of the sinusoid stimulus, treating each period of the waveform as a new stimulus
Fibre Recruitment
Provides stimulus intensity information
Number of active fibres is linearly related to amplitude of sinusoid stimulus
Meissner’s Corpuscles
- Receptor Type
Rapidly adapting type I afferent
Meissner’s Corpuscles
- Number
150 per cm2 glamorous skin
Meissner’s Corpuscles
- Afferent fibres
20 Meissner’s corpuscles per afferent
Meissner’s Corpuscles
- Structure
Directly connected to epidermal cells and collagen fibres
Meissner’s Corpuscles
- Receptive field
Small
2-5mm diameter
Meissner’s Corpuscles
- Stimulus Type
Respond best to low frequency vibration 10-40Hz
Meissner’s Corpuscles
- Function
Fine touch
Perception of slip between the skin and an object, to feedback on grip control
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Receptor Type
Rapidly adapting type II afferent
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Number
350 per finger
850 per palm
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Afferent Fibres
1 Pacinian corpuscles per afferent fibre
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Structure
Central nerve ending surrounded by concentric layers of cellular membrane called lamellae, alternating with fluid filled spaces
Enclosed in a capsule
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Receptive Field
Large
Central zone of maximal sensitivity surrounded by a large continuous surface of the finger or palm
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Stimulus Type
Extremely sensitive
Respond to 10nm of skin motion at 200Hz
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Function
Perception of events through an object held in the hand
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Location
Widely distributed
- Hypodermis and epidermis of glaborous skin
- Connective tissue in muscles
- Between tendons
- Close to bone periosteum
- Mesentery in cats
Pacinian Corpuscles
- Lamellae Removal
Prevents rapid adaptation to sustained stimulus.
Stimulus-induced receptor potential persists until the stimulus is removed
Vibration Detection
- Cutaneous Receptors Responsible
- Meissner’s corpuscles
- Pacinian corpuscles