Meissner's corpuscle

Meissner's Corpuscles

Meissner's corpuscles, also known as tactile corpuscles, are a type of mechanoreceptor found in the skin. They are named after the German anatomist Georg Meissner, who discovered them in the 19th century. These corpuscles are responsible for the sense of light touch in humans and other animals.

Structure

Meissner's corpuscles are encapsulated unmyelinated nerve endings, which consist of flattened supportive cells arranged as horizontal lamellae surrounded by a connective tissue capsule. They are oval-shaped and approximately 40 μm in length. They are most abundant in the thick skin of the fingertips and soles, where they occur in groups.

Function

The primary function of Meissner's corpuscles is to detect light touch. They are sensitive to shape and textural changes in exploratory and discriminatory touch. Their acute sensitivity provides the neural basis for the tactile exploration of objects, enabling the perception of their detailed surface structure.

Clinical significance

Changes in the number or function of Meissner's corpuscles can occur in various neurological disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, in which a decrease in the number of these corpuscles may contribute to the reduced tactile sensitivity seen in this condition.

See also

• Pacinian corpuscle
• Merkel cell
• Ruffini ending
• Free nerve ending