Sensory Receptors

Anatomical classes of receptors

Functional classes of receptors

General senses

usually refer to sensations related to the skin or intermal organs: pain, touch, pressure, temperature, movement, body chemistry

Nociceptors

signals interpreted as pain

Thermoreceptors

usually consist of free nerve endings

Mechanoreceptors

signals interpreted as touch, pressure and vibration

Baroreceptors (found mostly in blood vessels and heart)

signals interpreted as pressure in blood vessels and heart

Proprioceptors (found mostly in muscles and tendons)

signals interpreted as position of joints and muscles

Chemoreceptors

signals interpreted as the presence of a chemical (..glucose, pH)

Special senses

usually refer to sensations related to the ears, nose, tongue, eyes: hearing, balance, smell, taste, vision

Mechanoreceptors

Auditory receptors (Hair cells)

signals interpreted as sound

Vestibular receptors (Hair cells)

signals interpreted as balance

Chemoreceptors

Olfactory receptors

signals interpreted as odors

Gustatory receptors

signals interpreted as tastes

Photoreceptors

signals interpreted as visual images

 

© David G. Ward, Ph.D.  Last modified by wardd 23 May, 2006