II. Physiology: Sensory stimuli
- Mechanical stimulation
- Touch and Pressure
- Vibration
- Baroreceptors (e.g. aortic and carotid bodies)
- Sound receptors (e.g. Cochlea) allowing for Hearing
- Movement against gravity (Vestibular Labyrinths) allowing for balance
- Thermal stimulation
- Hot and cold Sensation
- Pain stimulation (Nociceptors)
- Nociceptors are triggered by painful stimuli (chemical, thermal or mechanical)
- Chemical stimulation
- Taste Bud
- Olfactory receptors allowing for smell
- pH Receptors (central Chemoreceptors on ventrolateral Medulla in Brainstem)
- Osmolality receptors (supraoptic nuclei Hypothalamus)
- Electromagnetic stimulation
III. Physiology: Somatic Sensory Nerve Endings
- Free Nerve Endings
- Includes pain (Nociceptors) and Temperature (Thermoreceptors)
- Also includes touch (Merkel disks) and Hair Root tactile receptors
- Unmyelinated fibers spread throughout Epidermis and Dermis
- Encapsulated Receptors
- Specialized functioning receptors for detection of all other Sensations except pain and Temperature
- Includes light touch (Meissner's corpuscle), deep pressure and vibration (Pacinian Corpuscle)
- Also includes Muscle stretch (Muscle Spindle receptors) and Muscle tendon tension (Golgi Tendon Organs)
IV. References
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Physiology p. 90-2
- Guyton and Hall (2006) Medical Physiology, p. 572-84