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How do free nerve endings respond to touch in the skin?
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Mechanoreception
In human skin, specialized nerve endings known as Meissner's corpuscles (or tactile corpuscles) are sensitive to touch. They are one of several different types of mechanoreceptors found in human skin.
In the context of human skin, free nerve endings function as one of several types of touch receptors. These receptors are located in the epidermis, the superficial dermis, and within hair follicles.12
Regarding their response to stimuli, free nerve endings are specifically involved in the perception of superficial light touch. While earlier scientific models sometimes struggled to categorize the precise roles of various skin receptors, modern electrophysiological studies have confirmed that these nerve endings act as specialized monitors for specific stimuli, including touch, pain, and temperature.12