Meissner's corpuscle
Encyclopedia
Meissner's corpuscles are a type of mechanoreceptor
. They are a type of nerve
ending in the skin
that is responsible for sensitivity to light touch. In particular, they have highest sensitivity (lowest threshold) when sensing vibrations lower than 50 Hertz
. They are rapidly adaptive receptors.
, but concentrated in areas especially sensitive to light touch, such as the finger
s, lip
s and nipple
s.
More particularly, they are primarily located just beneath the epidermis within the dermal papillae
.
nerve
endings, which consist of flattened supportive cells arranged as horizontal lamellae surrounded by a connective tissue
capsule. The corpuscle is between 30-140 μm in length and 40-60 μm in diameter.
A single nerve fiber meanders between the lamellae and throughout the corpuscle.
in the nerve. Since they are rapidly adapting or phasic, the action potential
s generated quickly decrease and eventually cease. (This is the reason one stops "feeling" one's clothes.)
If the stimulus is removed, the corpuscle regains its shape and while doing so (i.e.: while physically reforming) causes another volley of action potential
s to be generated.
Because of their superficial location in the dermis
, these corpuscles are particularly sensitive to touch and vibrations, but for the same reasons, they are limited in their detection because they can only signal that something is touching the skin.
(from a poke, for instance) are generated from Pacinian corpuscle
s (the only other type of phasic tactile mechanoreceptor), which are located deeper in the dermis, and some free nerve ending
s.
Also, Meissner's corpuscles do not detect pain
; this is signalled exclusively by free nerve ending
s.
Georg Meissner
(1829–1905).
Mechanoreceptor
A mechanoreceptor is a sensory receptor that responds to mechanical pressure or distortion. There are four main types in the glabrous skin of humans: Pacinian corpuscles, Meissner's corpuscles, Merkel's discs, and Ruffini corpuscles...
. They are a type of nerve
Nerve
A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...
ending in the skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
that is responsible for sensitivity to light touch. In particular, they have highest sensitivity (lowest threshold) when sensing vibrations lower than 50 Hertz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
. They are rapidly adaptive receptors.
Location
They are distributed on various areas of the skinSkin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
, but concentrated in areas especially sensitive to light touch, such as the finger
Finger
A finger is a limb of the human body and a type of digit, an organ of manipulation and sensation found in the hands of humans and other primates....
s, lip
Lip
Lips are a visible body part at the mouth of humans and many animals. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech...
s and nipple
Nipple
In its most general form, a nipple is a structure from which a fluid emanates. More specifically, it is the projection on the breasts or udder of a mammal by which breast milk is delivered to a mother's young. In this sense, it is often called a teat, especially when referring to non-humans, and...
s.
More particularly, they are primarily located just beneath the epidermis within the dermal papillae
Dermal papillae
In the human skin, the dermal papillae are small, nipple-like extensions of the dermis into the epidermis...
.
Structure
Meissner's corpuscles are encapsulated unmyelinatedMyelin
Myelin is a dielectric material that forms a layer, the myelin sheath, usually around only the axon of a neuron. It is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Myelin is an outgrowth of a type of glial cell. The production of the myelin sheath is called myelination...
nerve
Nerve
A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...
endings, which consist of flattened supportive cells arranged as horizontal lamellae surrounded by a connective tissue
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
capsule. The corpuscle is between 30-140 μm in length and 40-60 μm in diameter.
A single nerve fiber meanders between the lamellae and throughout the corpuscle.
Age-related changes
The number of Meissner corpuscles per square millimeter of human skin on the fingertips drops fourfold between the ages of 12 and 50. The rate at which they are lost correlates well with the age-related loss in touch sensitivity for small probes (Thornbury and Mistretta, 1981).Function
Any physical deformation in the corpuscle will cause an action potentialAction potential
In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells, and...
in the nerve. Since they are rapidly adapting or phasic, the action potential
Action potential
In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells, and...
s generated quickly decrease and eventually cease. (This is the reason one stops "feeling" one's clothes.)
If the stimulus is removed, the corpuscle regains its shape and while doing so (i.e.: while physically reforming) causes another volley of action potential
Action potential
In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells, and...
s to be generated.
Because of their superficial location in the dermis
Dermis
The dermis is a layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues, and is composed of two layers, the papillary and reticular dermis...
, these corpuscles are particularly sensitive to touch and vibrations, but for the same reasons, they are limited in their detection because they can only signal that something is touching the skin.
Comparison with other receptors
Feelings of deep pressurePressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...
(from a poke, for instance) are generated from Pacinian corpuscle
Pacinian corpuscle
Lamellar corpuscles or Pacinian corpuscles are one of the four major types of mechanoreceptor. They are nerve endings in the skin, responsible for sensitivity to vibration and pressure. Vibrational role may be used to detect surface, e.g., rough vs...
s (the only other type of phasic tactile mechanoreceptor), which are located deeper in the dermis, and some free nerve ending
Free nerve ending
A free nerve ending is an unspecialized, afferent nerve ending, meaning it brings information from the body's periphery toward the brain. They function as cutaneous receptors and are essentially used by vertebrates to detect pain.-Structure:...
s.
Also, Meissner's corpuscles do not detect pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
; this is signalled exclusively by free nerve ending
Free nerve ending
A free nerve ending is an unspecialized, afferent nerve ending, meaning it brings information from the body's periphery toward the brain. They function as cutaneous receptors and are essentially used by vertebrates to detect pain.-Structure:...
s.
Eponym
Meissner's corpuscles were discovered by the anatomistAnatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
Georg Meissner
Georg Meissner
Georg Meissner was a German anatomist and physiologist born in Hannover.He studied medicine at the University of Göttingen, where he worked closely with Rudolf Wagner . In 1851 he accompanied Wagner and Theodor Billroth on an expedition to Trieste, where he performed scientific studies of torpedo...
(1829–1905).
External links
- Donald L. Rubbelke D.A. Tissues of the Human Body: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill. 1999 Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles
- Dawn A. Tamarkin, Ph.D. Anatomy and Physiology Unit 15 Vision and Somatic Senses: Touch and Pressure - "Integument pigmented skin, Meissner's corpuscles " - "Meissner's Tactile Corpuscle"
- Histology at rutgers.eud