tangoreceptor

A tangoreceptor is a receptor for the sense of touch. This sense, also known as tangoreception, is found in organisms ranging from single-celled creatures to humans and generally involves the entire body surface, with exceptions for areas covered by thick, rigid shells.12

When an object makes contact, it deforms the body's surface. This deformation is detected by receptors, which are typically free nerve endings or specialized touch spots within the skin. These receptors can be associated with structures like tactile hairs. The area of skin served by a single nerve fiber is called a receptive field, and these fields often overlap.2

Highly sensitive and exposed body parts, such as the tentacles of an octopus or the human hand, are considered organs of touch. In humans, specific spots on the skin, particularly on the face, lips, tongue, fingertips, palms, and soles of the feet, are densely concentrated with these pressure spots. These spots are linked to microscopic structures in the skin called corpuscles. Some tactile sense organs are characterized by their rapid adaptation, meaning they temporarily lose sensitivity when stimulated.2