Physiology · Nerve and Muscle Physiology

Sensory receptors and sensory coding

6 min read

Definition

  • Sensation is the basic recognition of a stimulus; perception is its interpretation.
  • A receptor is a transducer converting its adequate stimulus into an action potential in a sensory neuron.

Types of Sensation

Types of sensation

Type

Somatic

Origin
Skin, body wall, muscle, tendon, bone, joint, connective tissue
Examples
Touch, pain, temperature, vibration, proprioception

Visceral

Origin
Wall or connective tissue of the viscera
Examples
Visceral pain

Special

Origin
Special sense organs (eye, ear, nose, tongue)
Examples
Vision, audition, olfaction, gustation, vestibular sense

Classification of Receptors

Classification of receptors