Unit 7 - Sensory Modalities Flashcards
overview of modalities
mechanoreceptors
tactile info - skin and also visceral system
mostly associated with large diameter (Aβ) myelinated axons
Merkel Cell complexes
proportion of mechanoreceptors composed of Merkel cell complexes
25% of mechanoreceptors - particularly dense in fingertips
where can merkel cells be found
lie in primary epidermal ridges - fingerprints
channels associated with merkel cells
VG Ca2+ channels
resolution of merkel cell complexes
high spatial resolution - small receptive fields
high spatial resolution ⇒
small receptive fields
freq of stimulation merkel cells respond to
low freq stimulation - slight skin deformation
Merkel cells are sensitive to
rate of adaptation
sensitive to points, edges, curvatures - form and texture
slowly adapting
firing of merkel cells
As objects pass over your fingers they will cause deformations
Causing lamina surrounding nerve endings to change - open Ca2+ channels to depolarise neuron - reach threshold, travels towards Aβ fibre to CNS
meissner corpusles - proportion of mechanoreceptors
40% of mechanoreceptors
where are meissner corpusles found
tips of dermal papillae adjacent to primary ridges
describe structure of meissner corpusles
elongated receptors - lamelle of Schwann cells
what are meissner corpusles sensitive to
skin deformation
particularly low freq vibrations - objects moving over skin
objects slipping from hand - control of grip
receptive fields of meissner corpusles
rate of adaptation
small receptive fields
rapidly adapting