VC1.H2.6 +7 Meissner's and Paccinian Corpuscle

Meissner's Corpuscle

Meissner's Corpuscle
  • Meissner's corpuscles are sensitive to light touch
  • Notice from the micrograph that the receptor shown is located just deep to the epidermis

Paccinian Corpuscle

Paccinian Corpuscle
  • Paccinian corpuscles are believed to be sensitive to vibration and pressure
  • Unlike Meissner's corpuscles, Paccinian corpuscles are usually found deep in the dermis
  • Think of a reason why this distribution is appropriate
  • They are the easiest of receptor types to recognize in histological preparations
  • They are large (some can be seen as a pale staining patch on a histological preparation with the naked eye)
  • On microscopical examination they have the appearance of a cross-section of an onion
  • The actual nerve terminal is very difficult to distinguish but these receptors have numerous support cells and it is the support cells which can be seen easily

Question:

  • In the case of receptors in Meissner's Corpuscle:

Can you think of a situation where you might use these receptors?
Can you think of a population group which might rely on these receptors for everyday activities?
Think of a reason why this type of receptor is unlikely to be located more superficially, say in the epidermis
Think of a reason why this type of receptor is unlikely to be located more deeply in the dermis

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