Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Nervous System > Peripheral Nervous System > Nerve Endings > Receptors, Sensory Terms and Definitions




Receptors, Sensory

Medical Definition: Specialized neurons or parts of neurons which transduce sensory information and relay it centrally. Included are receptors for stimuli outside the body (exteroceptors) as well as receptors for stimuli from within the body itself (interoceptors and proprioceptors). Sensory receptors may include accessory structures which condition (e.g., filter) the input received by the receptor neurons themselves.
Guide Notes: DF: RECEPT SENSORY
Also Called: Nerve Endings, Sensory
Receptors, Sensory Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Chemoreceptors - Cells specialized to detect chemical substances and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Chemoreceptors may monitor external stimuli, as in TASTE and OLFACTION, or internal stimuli, such as the concentrations of OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE in the blood.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Mechanoreceptors - Cells specialized to transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Mechanoreceptors include HAIR CELLS, which mediate hearing and balance, and the various somatosensory receptors, often with non-neural accessory structures.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Nociceptors - Peripheral receptors for pain. Nociceptors include receptors which are sensitive to painful mechanical stimuli, extreme heat or cold, and chemical stimuli. All nociceptors are free nerve endings.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Thermoreceptors - Cellular receptors which mediate the sense of temperature. Thermoreceptors in vertebrates are mostly located under the skin. In mammals there are separate types of thermoreceptors for cold and for warmth and NOCICEPTORS which detect cold or heat extreme enough to cause pain.

Receptors, Sensory Medical Definitions and Terms

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