Pacinian Corpuscles

• What type of receptors are pacinian corpucles?


  Mechanoreceptors
• What do mechanoreceptors detect?


  Mechanical stimuli eg pressure and vibrations
• Where are pacinian corpuscles found?


  in the skin
• What do mechanoreceptors detect?

  Mechanical stimuli eg pressure Mechanical stimuli eg pressure
• What do pacinian corpuscles contain?


  The end of a sensory neurone, called a SENSORY NERVE ENDING
• What is the sensory nerve ending wrapped in?


  Loads of layers of connective tissue called lamellae
• What happens when a pacinian corpuscle is stimulated?

  The lamellae are deformed and press on the sensory nerve ending

  • this causes the sensory neurone's cell membrane to stretch,
  • deforming the stretch-mediated sodium ion channels
  • The channels open and sodium ions diffuse into the cell,
  • creating a generator potential
• When may a pacinian corpuscle be stimulated?


  By a tap on the arm
• What happens if the generator potential reaches the threshold?


  it triggers an action potential
• Pacinian corpuscles only respond to hwhat?


  Mechanical stimuli

  • this is a good example of how receptors only respond to SPECIFIC STIMULI