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What is a Meissner Corpuscle?

Published in Touch Receptors 2 mins read

A Meissner corpuscle is a specialized nerve ending in the skin responsible for detecting light touch and low-frequency vibrations. It plays a crucial role in our ability to perceive fine details and textures through touch.

Key Features of Meissner Corpuscles

Here's a breakdown of their characteristics:

  • Location: They are located in the dermal papillae of the skin, particularly in areas with high tactile sensitivity like fingertips, lips, and eyelids.
  • Function: Meissner corpuscles primarily detect fine, discriminative touch and low-frequency vibrations. They are highly sensitive to changes in texture and movement across the skin. [1]
  • Sensitivity Range: These corpuscles are particularly responsive to vibrations in the range of 10 to 50 Hertz. [1] They can detect skin indentations as small as less than 10 micrometers. [1]

How They Work:

  • When the skin is touched or vibrated, the Meissner corpuscle is physically deformed.
  • This deformation triggers an electrical signal in the associated sensory nerve fiber.
  • This signal is transmitted to the brain, where it is interpreted as the sensation of touch or vibration.

Examples of Meissner Corpuscle Function:

  • Reading Braille: The ability to discern the tiny raised dots of Braille relies heavily on the sensitivity of Meissner corpuscles in the fingertips.
  • Feeling Fabric: When you rub your fingers over a piece of clothing, Meissner corpuscles help you distinguish between the different textures.
  • Holding a Delicate Object: These corpuscles allow you to make precise adjustments in your grip when handling fragile items.
  • Detecting Subtle Vibrations: They enable you to feel the slight vibrations of your mobile phone or other handheld devices.

Summary of Key Characteristics:

Feature Description
Primary Function Fine, discriminative touch and low-frequency vibration
Sensitivity Range 10-50 Hertz
Detection Threshold Skin indentations of less than 10 micrometers
Location Dermal papillae of the skin, especially in sensitive areas

In conclusion, Meissner corpuscles are vital for our sense of touch, providing us with detailed information about the textures and vibrations in our environment, particularly at low frequencies. [1]