MH 091 Thick Skin

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Mechanoreceptors

A mechanoreceptor is a sensory receptor that responds to mechanical pressure or distortion. Two types are easily seen in skin from fingers or lips.

Meissner Corpuscle - nerve endings in skin responsible for sensitivity to light touch.

located in projections of connective tissue (dermal papillae) into the stratified squamous keratinized epithelium (epidermis).
Each consists of a non-myelinated axon meandering between Schwann cells arranged as horizontal lamellae surrounded by a connective tissue capsule.
Additional examples: ,, ,.

Pacinian Corpuscle (or lamellar corpuscles) - nerve endings in skin responsible for sensitivity to vibration and pressure.

of 20 to 60 concentric lamellae located in the dense irregular connective tissue (dermis) underneath the epithelium.
Each contains an of an non-myelinated axon within a fluid-filled cavity formed by several lamellae of Schwann cells.
Most of the corpuscle is concentric lamellae separated by fluid. The flattened cells that form these are fibroblasts similar to those located in the endoneurium around peripheral nerves.
Deformation of the lamellae increases pressure on the axon causing the generation of nerve impulses.

Additional examples: (two Pacinian corpuscles and adjacent nerve) and (two Pacinian corpuscles).