Pacinian corpuscle

Common card · No. 281446

The Pacinian corpuscle (also lamellar corpuscle, or Vater–Pacini corpuscle) is a low-threshold mechanoreceptor, responsive to deep pressure, stretch, tickle and vibration, found in the skin and other internal organs. In the skin it is one of the four main types of cutaneous receptors. The corpuscles are present in skin notably on both surfaces of the hands and feet, arms, and neck. Pacinian corpuscles are also found on bone periosteum, joint capsules, the pancreas and other internal organs, the breast, genitals, and lymph nodes. Pacinian corpuscles are rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors. As phasic receptors they respond quickly but briefly to a stimulus with the response diminishing even when the stimulus is maintained. They primarily respond to vibration, and deep pressure. They are especially sensitive to high-frequency vibrations. Groups of corpuscles sense pressure changes (such as on grasping or releasing an object). They are additionally crucially involved in proprioception. The vibrational...

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