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
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Definition (MSH) | Cells specialized to detect chemical substances and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Chemoreceptor cells may monitor external stimuli, as in TASTE and OLFACTION, or internal stimuli, such as the concentrations of OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE in the blood. |
Definition (CSP) | sensory nerve endings capable of transducing chemical stimuli into neuronal impulses; do not confuse with receptor molecules, which are covered under RECEPTOR. |
Concepts | Cell (T025) |
MSH | D002628 |
English | chemoreceptor, Chemoreceptor, Cells, Chemoreceptor, Chemoreceptor Cell, Chemoreceptive Cells, Cells, Chemoreceptive, Cell, Chemoreceptor, Cell, Chemoreceptive, Chemoreceptive Cell, Chemoreceptor Cells, chemoreceptors, Chemoreceptors |
Czech | chemoreceptory, chemoreceptorové buňky |
Finnish | Kemoreseptorit |
Russian | KHEMORETSEPTORY, KHIMIORETSEPTOR, KHEMORETSEPTOR, ХЕМОРЕЦЕПТОРНЫЕ КЛЕТКИ, ХЕМОРЕЦЕПТОРЫ, KHEMORETSEPTORNYE KLETKI, ХЕМОРЕЦЕПТОР, ХИМИОРЕЦЕПТОР |
Spanish | Células Quimiorreceptoras |
French | Cellules chimioréceptrices, Cellules chémoréceptrices |
Portuguese | Células Quimiorreceptoras |
Swedish | Kemoreceptorceller |
Croatian | KEMORECEPTORI |
Latvian | Hemoreceptoru šūnas |
Polish | Chemoreceptory, Komórki chemoreceptorowe |
Japanese | 化学受容細胞, 化学受容体細胞, 化学受容器, 化学受容体 |
Norwegian | Kjemoreseptorceller, Kjemoreseptive celler |
German | Chemorezeptoren |
Italian | Chemorecettori |
Ontology: Mechanoreceptors (C0025032)
Definition (MSH) | Cells specialized to transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Mechanoreceptor cells include the INNER EAR hair cells, which mediate hearing and balance, and the various somatosensory receptors, often with non-neural accessory structures. |
Definition (CSP) | receptor cell that is sensitive to mechanical stimulation such as touch, pressure, or tension. |
Concepts | Cell (T025) |
MSH | D008465 |
English | Mechanoreceptors, MECHANORECEPT, Mechanoreceptor, Cells, Mechanoreceptor, Mechanoreceptor Cells, Cell, Mechanoreceptor, mechanoreceptor, mechanoreceptors, Mechanoreceptor Cell, Auditory Receptor Cell |
Swedish | Mekanoreceptorer |
Czech | mechanoreceptory |
Finnish | Mekanoreseptorit |
Russian | KRAUZE KOLBY, RETSEPTORY RASTIAZHENIIA, MEISSNERA CHUVSTVITEL'NOE TEL'TSE, NERVNO-SUKHOZHIL'NYE VERETENA, MEISSNERA OSIAZATEL'NOE TEL'TSE, RUFFINI TEL'TSA, MEKHANORETSEPTORY, KRAUZE KONTSEVYE LUKOVITSY, КРАУЗЕ КОЛБЫ, КРАУЗЕ КОНЦЕВЫЕ ЛУКОВИЦЫ, МЕЙССНЕРА ОСЯЗАТЕЛЬНОЕ ТЕЛЬЦЕ, МЕЙССНЕРА ЧУВСТВИТЕЛЬНОЕ ТЕЛЬЦЕ, МЕХАНОРЕЦЕПТОРЫ, НЕРВНО-СУХОЖИЛЬНЫЕ ВЕРЕТЕНА, РЕЦЕПТОРЫ РАСТЯЖЕНИЯ, РУФФИНИ ТЕЛЬЦА |
Japanese | マイスネル小体, Meissner小体, ゴルジ腱紡錘, 伸展受容器, 機械的受容器, 腱紡錘, 伸長受容器, Ruffini小体, 伸張受容器, 機械受容器, Krause終末小体 |
Croatian | Not Translated[Mechanoreceptors] |
Latvian | Mehanoreceptori |
Polish | Mechanoreceptory, Receptory rozciągowe, Narządy Ruffiniego, Narządy Krauzego |
Norwegian | Mekanoreseptorceller, Mekanoreseptorer |
German | Mechanorezeptoren |
Italian | Meccanorecettori |
Dutch | Mechanoreceptoren, Receptor, mechano- |
Portuguese | Mecanorreceptores |
French | Mécanorécepteur, Mécanorécepteurs |
Spanish | Mecanorreceptores |
Ontology: Perception (C0030971)
Definition (ICF) | Specific mental functions of recognizing and interpreting sensory stimuli. |
Definition (ICF-CY) | Specific mental functions of recognizing and interpreting sensory stimuli. |
Definition (NCI) | The process of producing an internal, conscious image through stimulating a sensory system; it involves the recognition that stimulation has occurred, and the ability to discriminate various aspects of the stimulus. |
Definition (MSH) | The process by which the nature and meaning of sensory stimuli are recognized and interpreted. |
Definition (PSY) | Conceptually broad term referring to the process of obtaining cognitive or sensory information about the environment. Use a more specific term if possible. |
Definition (CSP) | the process of producing an internal, conscious image through stimulating a sensory system; it involves the recognition that stimulation has occurred, and the ability to discriminate various aspects of the stimulus. |
Concepts | Mental Process (T041) |
MSH | D010465 |
SnomedCT | 81742003, 275276009 |
English | Perception, Perceptions, Perception, function, Perceptual functions, unspecified, Perceptual functions, perceptions, perceiving, perception, perceived, Perceived, Perception (observable entity), Perception, function (observable entity), Perception, NOS, Perception (function) |
Swedish | Uppfattning |
Czech | vnímání, percepce |
Finnish | Aistimukset |
Russian | VOSPRIIATIE, ВОСПРИЯТИЕ |
Croatian | PERCEPCIJA |
Polish | Postrzeganie, Percepcja |
Norwegian | Sansing, Sansning, Persepsjon |
Spanish | percepción (entidad observable), percepción (función), percepción, Percepción |
French | Perception |
German | Perzeption, Wahrnehmung |
Italian | Percezione |
Dutch | Perceptie, Waarneming |
Portuguese | Percepção |
Ontology: Pressoreceptors (C0033093)
Definition (MSH) | Receptors in the vascular system, particularly the aorta and carotid sinus, which are sensitive to stretch of the vessel walls. |
Definition (CSP) | pressure receptor in the wall of the atrium of the heart, vena cava, aortic arch and carotid sinus that is sensitive to stretching of the wall which occurs with increased pressure. |
Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
MSH | D011311 |
English | Baroreceptors, Pressoreceptor, Pressoreceptors, Receptors, Stretch, Arterial, Receptors, Stretch, Vascular, Stretch Receptors, Arterial, Stretch Receptors, Vascular, Arterial Stretch Receptor, Arterial Stretch Receptors, Receptor, Arterial Stretch, Receptor, Vascular Stretch, Receptors, Arterial Stretch, Receptors, Vascular Stretch, Stretch Receptor, Arterial, Stretch Receptor, Vascular, Vascular Stretch Receptor, Vascular Stretch Receptors, baroreceptor, pressoreceptor, STRETCH RECEPT VASCULAR, RECEPT STRETCH ARTERIAL, STRETCH RECEPT ARTERIAL, PRESSORECEPT, BARORECEPT, RECEPT STRETCH VASCULAR, Baroreceptor, baroreceptors |
French | Récepteurs à l'étirement de la paroi vasculaire, Récepteurs vasculaires à l'étirement, Baro-récepteurs, Barorécepteurs, Pressorécepteurs |
Swedish | Tryckreceptorer |
Czech | baroreceptory, presoreceptory |
Finnish | Baroreseptorit |
Russian | BARORETSEPTORY, RETSEPTORY PRESSORNYE, TENZORETSEPTORY, BAROTSEPTORY, RETSEPTORY RASTIAZHENIIA SOSUDISTYE, PRESSORETSEPTORY, RETSEPTORY RASTIAZHENIIA ARTERIAL'NYE, БАРОРЕЦЕПТОРЫ, БАРОЦЕПТОРЫ, ПРЕССОРЕЦЕПТОРЫ, РЕЦЕПТОРЫ ПРЕССОРНЫЕ, РЕЦЕПТОРЫ РАСТЯЖЕНИЯ АРТЕРИАЛЬНЫЕ, РЕЦЕПТОРЫ РАСТЯЖЕНИЯ СОСУДИСТЫЕ, ТЕНЗОРЕЦЕПТОРЫ |
Japanese | 圧受容器, 動脈伸展受容器, 動脈伸張受容器, 圧受容体, 脈管伸張受容器, 血管伸張受容器, 受容器-動脈伸張, 受容器-血管伸張 |
Italian | Barorecettori, Pressorecettori |
Croatian | TLAK, RECEPTORI |
Latvian | Presoreceptori |
Polish | Pressoreceptory |
Norwegian | Strekkreseptorer, vaskulære, Strekkreseptorer, arterielle, Pressoreseptorer, Baroreseptorer |
German | Barorezeptoren, Dehnungsrezeptoren, arterielle, Pressorezeptoren, Rezeptoren, Dehnungs-, arterielle, Dehnungsrezeptoren, vaskuläre, Rezeptoren, Dehnungs-, vaskuläre |
Dutch | Baroreceptoren, Drukreceptor, Drukreceptoren, Pressoreceptoren, Receptor, druk-, Vasculaire rekreceptoren, Arteriële rekreceptoren |
Portuguese | Barorreceptores, Pressorreceptores, Receptores Arteriais de Estiramento, Receptores Vasculares de Estiramento, Receptores de Estiramento Arterial, Receptores de Estiramento Vascular |
Spanish | Barorreceptores, Presorreceptores, Receptores de Estiramiento Arterial, Receptores de Estiramiento Vascular |
Ontology: Sensory Receptor Cells (C0034837)
Definition (MSH) | Specialized afferent neurons capable of transducing sensory stimuli into NERVE IMPULSES to be transmitted to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Sometimes sensory receptors for external stimuli are called exteroceptors; for internal stimuli are called interoceptors and proprioceptors. |
Definition (CSP) | specialized sensory nerve processes or epithelial structures that respond to specific kinds of stimuli in the internal or external environment; this term refers to cells and cellular structures, as opposed to the molecular and submembrane structures covered by RECEPTOR. |
Concepts | Cell Component (T026) |
MSH | D011984 |
English | Neural Receptor, Neural Receptors, Neuroreceptor, Neuroreceptors, Receptor, Neural, Receptor, Sensory, Receptors, Neural, Sensory Receptor, Sensory Receptors, sensory receptor, NEURORECEPT, RECEPT SENSORY, RECEPT NEURAL, NEURAL RECEPT, SENSORY RECEPT, neuroreceptor, receptor organ, Sensory receptor, Peripheral ending of sensory neuron, Receptor Cells, Sensory, Neuron, Sensory, Sensory Receptor Cell, Sensory Neuron, Receptor Cell, Sensory, Neurons, Sensory, Receptors, Sensory, Sensory Neurons, Sensory Receptor Cells, sensory receptors, neuroreceptors, organs receptor, neural receptors, Sensory receptors, Receptors (Neural) |
Czech | receptory senzorické, neuroreceptory, senzorické neurony, nervové receptory, senzorické receptorové buňky |
Finnish | Aistinreseptorit |
Italian | Recettori neurali, Neurorecettori, Recettori sensoriali |
Russian | RETSEPTORY CHUVSTVITEL'NYE, RETSEPTORY SENSORNYE, NEIRORETSEPTORY, NERVNYE OKONCHANIIA CHUVSTVITEL'NYE, СЕНСОРНЫЕ РЕЦЕПТОРНЫЕ КЛЕТКИ, SENSORNYE RETSEPTORNYE KLETKI, РЕЦЕПТОРЫ ЧУВСТВИТЕЛЬНЫЕ, НЕЙРОРЕЦЕПТОРЫ, НЕРВНЫЕ ОКОНЧАНИЯ ЧУВСТВИТЕЛЬНЫЕ, РЕЦЕПТОРЫ СЕНСОРНЫЕ |
Japanese | 感覚受容体, 神経系受容体, 神経受容体, 受容器-感覚, 受容体-神経系, 知覚性神経終末, 感覚受容器, 感覚受容細胞, 感覚刺激受容器 |
Spanish | Neuronas Sensoriales, Células Receptoras Sensoriales, Neuronas Sensitivas, Receptores Sensitivos, Terminaciones Nerviosas Sensitivas, Neurorreceptores, Receptores Neurales |
French | Neurones sensoriels, Récepteurs sensoriels, Cellules réceptrices sensorielles, Neurorécepteurs |
Portuguese | Neurônios Sensitivos, Células Receptoras Sensoriais, Receptores Sensoriais, Neurônios Sensoriais, Terminações Nervosas Sensoriais, Neurorreceptores, Receptores Neurais |
Croatian | RECEPTORI, OSJETNI |
Latvian | Not Translated[Sensory Receptor Cells] |
Swedish | Sensoriska receptorceller |
Polish | Ciałka dotykowe, Neurony czuciowe, Receptory czuciowe, Zakończenia nerwowe czuciowe, Komórki receptorowe czuciowe |
Norwegian | Nevroreseptorer, Sensoriske nevroner, Nevrale reseptorer, Sensoriske reseptorer, Sensoriske reseptorceller |
German | Neurorezeptoren, Rezeptoren, neuronale, Rezeptoren, sensible |
Dutch | Receptor, sensore, Receptoren, neurale, Receptoren, sensore |
Ontology: Thermoreceptors (C0039821)
Definition (MSH) | Cellular receptors which mediate the sense of temperature. Thermoreceptors in vertebrates are mostly located under the skin. In mammals there are separate types of thermoreceptors for cold and for warmth and NOCICEPTORS which detect cold or heat extreme enough to cause pain. |
Definition (CSP) | cellular receptor or nerve ending, usually in the skin in vertebrates, that is sensitive to changes in temperature. |
Concepts | Cell Component (T026) |
MSH | D013823 |
English | Thermoreceptors, thermoreceptor, THERMORECEPT, temperature receptor, thermoreceptors, receptors temperature, Thermoreceptor |
French | Récepteurs thermosensibles, Récepteurs à la température, Récepteurs sensibles à la température, Thermorécepteur, Thermo-récepteurs, Thermocepteurs, Thermorécepteurs |
Swedish | Värmereceptorer |
Czech | termoreceptory |
Finnish | Lämpötilareseptorit |
Russian | RETSEPTORY TEMPERATURNYE, TERMORETSEPTORY, РЕЦЕПТОРЫ ТЕМПЕРАТУРНЫЕ, ТЕРМОРЕЦЕПТОРЫ |
Latvian | Termoreceptori |
Polish | Termoreceptory, Receptory zimna, Receptory ciepła |
Norwegian | Kuldereseptorer, Varmereseptorer, Termoreseptorer |
Spanish | Receptores de Temperatura, Termorreceptores |
German | Thermorezeptoren |
Italian | Termorecettori |
Dutch | Receptor, thermo-, Thermoreceptor, Thermoreceptoren |
Portuguese | Termorreceptores |
Ontology: Nerve Endings, Sensory (C0086697)
Concepts | Cell Component (T026) |
MSH | D011984 |
English | Nerve Ending, Sensory, Sensory Nerve Ending, Sensory Nerve Endings, Nerve Endings, Sensory |
Portuguese | Terminações Nervosas Sensitivas |
Spanish | Terminaciones Nerviosas Sensoriales |
French | Terminaisons nerveuses sensitives, Terminaisons nerveuses sensorielles |
German | Nervenendungen, sensorische |
Italian | Terminazioni nervose sensoriali |
Czech | senzorická nervová zakončení |
Norwegian | Sensoriske nerveender |
Ontology: Merkel Cells (C0205832)
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | A special type of cell found right below the epidermis (top layer of skin). These cells are very close to the nerve endings that receive the sensation of touch and may be involved in touch. The cells also contain substances that may act as hormones. |
Definition (NCI) | Modified epidermal cells located in the stratum basale. They are found mostly in areas where sensory perception is acute, such as the fingertips. Merkel cells are closely associated with an expanded terminal bulb of an afferent myelinated nerve fiber. (MeSH) |
Definition (MSH) | Modified epidermal cells located in the stratum basale. They are found mostly in areas where sensory perception is acute, such as the fingertips. Merkel cells are closely associated with an expanded terminal bulb of an afferent myelinated nerve fiber. Do not confuse with Merkel's corpuscle which is a combination of a neuron and an epidermal cell. |
Concepts | Cell (T025) |
MSH | D018862 |
SnomedCT | 10149001 |
English | Receptor, Merkel, Merkel's Receptor, Merkel Receptor, Merkel Receptors, Merkel's Receptors, Merkels Receptor, Receptor, Merkel's, Receptors, Merkel, Receptors, Merkel's, Cells, Merkel, Merkel Cells, Receptors, Merkels, MERKELS RECEPT, RECEPT MERKELS, MERKEL RECEPT, RECEPT MERKEL, Merkel cell, merkel cell, merkel's cell, cell merkel, merkel cells, Merkel cells, Merkel's cell, Merkel's cell (cell), Merkel's cell (body structure), Merkel Cell |
Swedish | Merkelceller |
Czech | Merkelovy buňky |
Finnish | Merkelin solut |
Italian | Recettori di Merkel, Recettore di Merkel, Cellule di Merkel |
Russian | MERKELIA KLETKI, MERKELIA RETSEPTORY, МЕРКЕЛЯ КЛЕТКИ, МЕРКЕЛЯ РЕЦЕПТОРЫ |
Japanese | Merkel細胞, Merkel受容器, メルケル細胞 |
Polish | Komórki Merkla |
Norwegian | Merkel-reseptorer, Merkels sanselegemer, Merkelceller |
Spanish | célula de Merkel (célula), célula de Merkel (estructura corporal), célula de Merkel, Receptor de Merkel, Células de Merkel |
German | Merkel-Tastzellen, Merkelrezeptor, Merkelzellen |
Dutch | Merkel, tastlichaampje van, Tastlichaampje van Merkel |
Portuguese | Células de Merkel, Receptor de Merkel |
French | Cellule de Merkel, Cellules de Merkel, Récepteur de Merkel, Récepteurs de Merkel |
Ontology: Free nerve ending (C0228107)
Definition (NCI) | Free nerve endings are widely distributed throughout the body, and are found as branches of unmyelinated, or lightly myelinated fibres grouped in bundles beneath the epithelium. As they penetrate the epithelium, they lose their myelin, and branch among the epithelial cells. Branches of one nerve may cover a wide area and overlap the territories of other nerves. The free nerve endings detect pain, touch, pressure and temperature, and are associated with C fibres. |
Concepts | Cell Component (T026) |
SnomedCT | 38005009 |
English | Unencapsulated nerve ending, free nerve ending, endings free nerve, Free nerve ending, Free nerve ending (body structure), Free Nerve Endings, Free Nerve Ending |
Spanish | terminación libre del nervio (estructura corporal), terminación libre del nervio |
Ontology: Somatic sensation (C0234209)
Definition (CSP) | consciousness of having a body. |
Concepts | Organism Function (T040) |
SnomedCT | 90130008, 397725003 |
English | somesthesis, somatesthesia, Somatic sensation, Somesthesia, Somaesthesia, Somataesthesia, Somatesthesia, Somatic sensation, function (observable entity), Somatic sensation, function, Somatic sensation (function) |
Spanish | sensación somática (entidad observable), somestesia, sensación somática, sensación somática (función), sensación somática, función (entidad observable), sensación somática, función |
Ontology: Proprioceptor (C0682649)
Concepts | Cell (T025) |
English | Proprioceptor, proprioceptor, proprioceptors, Proprioceptors, Proprioceptive Sensory Neuron |
Ontology: Encapsulated nerve ending (C2327662)
Concepts | Cell Component (T026) |
English | Encapsulated nerve ending |
Ontology: Nerve ending within Pacinian corpuscle (C2338921)
Concepts | Cell Component (T026) |
English | Nerve ending within Pacinian corpuscle |
Ontology: Nerve ending within Meisner's corpuscle (C2339497)
Concepts | Cell Component (T026) |
English | Nerve ending within Meisner's corpuscle |