Sensory Receptors

Nociceptor

Detects pain based on the presence of chemicals from tissue damage, intense mechanical stimuli, or extreme temperature changes

Thermoreceptor

Detects temperatures above (heat) or below (cold) homeostatic body temperature

Mechanoreceptor

Detects physical stimuli such as light touch, pressure, vibration via physical distortion of cell membranes; aids in balance

Meissner’s corpuscles

Touch receptors in the skin that detect fine touch and vibration

Lamellar/Pacinian corpuscles

Neurons with encapsulated nerve endings that respond to deep pressure in the dermis

Root hair plexus

Wraps around hair follicles and detects when they move

Baroreceptor

Free nerve endings with branches in the walls of organs and vessels that sense pressure changes

Proprioceptor

Located near moving parts of the body to detect tissue position as well as the tension or stretch of muscles

Golgi tendon organ (GTO)

Proprioceptor that detects the rate of tension in a tendon

Muscle spindle

Proprioceptor in muscle tissue that monitors the length of the muscle

Chemoreceptor

Detects chemical stimuli and chemical compositions of body fluids

Exteroceptor

Detects stimuli from the external environment

Telereceptor

Detects stimuli from a far distance

Photoreceptor

Light-detecting neurons in the retina

Interoceptor

Detects stimuli from internal organs and tissues

Osmoreceptor

Detects changes in the solute concentrations of blood; primarily found in the hypothalamus

Hair cell

Mechanoreceptor in the ear canal that detects sound vibrations and helps maintains balance