Medical Terminology of the Touch

afferent neurons

sensory nerves, responsible for bringing sensory information to the brain

efferent neurons

motor nerves, responsible for carrying signals from the brain to the rest of the body to perform action

Haptic perception

perception of touch

Nociprception

perception of pain

Proprioception

perception of body movement

Thermoception

perception of temperature

Mechanorectors

detect pressure and texture

Thermorceptors

sense change in temperature

Proprioceptors

detect movement and position of the body

Nociceptors

sense pain

Hyperalgesia

abnormally heightened sensitivity to pain

Hyposthesia

numbness