Pacinian corpuscles are associated with which sensory function?

Pacinian corpuscles are associated with which sensory function?

• A. Sensing vibration and deep pressure
• B. Sensing light touch
• C. Sensing warmth and cold
• D. Sensing pain

Answer: (A)

Pacinian corpuscles are specialized mechanoreceptors in the skin that respond to rapid changes in mechanical force, especially vibration and deep pressure. They are rapidly adapting and have a layered, onion-like structure around a nerve ending, which makes them particularly sensitive to high-frequency vibrations and deep pressure changes rather than to light touch or steady pressure. That’s why they’re best described as sensing vibration and deep pressure. For contrast, light touch is mainly detected by Meissner’s corpuscles, warmth and cold by thermoreceptors, and pain by nociceptors.

Pacinian corpuscles are specialized mechanoreceptors in the skin that respond to rapid changes in mechanical force, especially vibration and deep pressure. They are rapidly adapting and have a layered, onion-like structure around a nerve ending, which makes them particularly sensitive to high-frequency vibrations and deep pressure changes rather than to light touch or steady pressure. That’s why they’re best described as sensing vibration and deep pressure. For contrast, light touch is mainly detected by Meissner’s corpuscles, warmth and cold by thermoreceptors, and pain by nociceptors.