skin, epidermis, dermis, Meissner’s corpuscle, pacinian corpuscle
A more general special sense is all over the body in the skin. These "cutaneous sensory receptors" are actually part of the nervous system. Little nerve endings in our skin pick up on signals from the outside world; like heat, cold, pressure and pain. There are many kinds of receptors. Meissner's corpuscles are egg-shaped receptors found just below the top layer of the skin (in the epidermis). They pick up light touch. These receptors help us identify objects by touch. Close your eyes and have someone place an object in your hands, feel it with your fingers until you know what it is. Those are your Meissner’s corpuscles at work! Deep in your skin (in the dermis) pacinian corpuscles feel deep pressure, like a painful squeeze. Free nerve endings sit just below the top layer of the skin (in the epidermis). They pick up heat, cold or pain. The receptors that pick up heat and cold are called thermoreceptors. The receptors that pick up pain are called nociceptors.
