Dictionary > Mechanoreceptor

Mechanoreceptor

Definition
noun, plural: mechanoreceptors
A sensory receptor chiefly in the skin or in the body surface of an organism used for the sense of touch and detection of external stimuli such as mechanical pressure or distortion.
Supplement
Mechanoreceptors are one of the neural receptors in a somatosensory system. They are primarily involved in recognizing different mechanical stimuli. Example is the touch receptor in the skin.
Insects are popular example of group of organisms with specialized structures for mechanoreception. They have three major types of mechanoreceptors:

  • cuticular mechanoreceptor
  • chordotonal mechanoreceptor
  • stretch mechanoreceptor

Word origin: Greek mēkhano- , from mēkhanē, (machine) + receptor
Also called:

  • mechanicoreceptor

Compare with other receptors in somatosensory system:

  • thermoreceptor
  • proprioceptor
  • nociceptor
  • See also:

    Mentioned in:

  • Muscle spindle
  • Somatosensory system
  • Mechanoreflex


  • You will also like...

    Control of body movement
    Control of Body Movement

    Some of the body movements can be controlled at will, others cannot. The body has a motor program, which is the pattern ..

    Ploidy
    Polyploidy

    Humans are diploid creatures. This means that for every chromosome in the body, there is another one to match it. Howeve..

    Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes
    Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

    Learn about the general structure of a eukaryotic gene, the transcription factors, and post-transcriptional regulation....

    genes controlling growth and development
    Control of Growth & Development

    Control of Growth & Development tutorials look at how the genetic makeup determines the biological processes on a da..

    Independent Assortment and Crossing Over
    Independent Assortment and Crossing Over

    This tutorial describes the independent assortment of chromosomes and crossing over as important events in meiosis. Read..

    Bryophytes
    Bryophytes

    Bryophytes (nonvascular plants) are a plant group characterized by lacking vascular tissues. They include the mosses, th..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics