The organs of touch are special receptors that are localized in the skin, tendons, muscles, joints and mucous membranes. With the help of such sensing devices, the human body reacts to the complex effect of surrounding stimuli: pain, temperature and mechanical. In the skin, the organs of touch are unevenly distributed, for example, in the palms, fingers, lips, genitals and feet, there are especially many of them, so these areas are most sensitive to various environmental factors. Thanks to such innate abilities, a person can prevent serious injuries and injuries to the body.
How do touch organs work?
The receptor receptors supply nerve impulses to the cortex of the
cerebral hemispheres of the brain , where the analyzers of sensitivity of the skin are located. Since the main organ of touch is skin, even with the slightest impact on its parts, reading and
processing of information occurs in the head, which allows a person to quickly respond to a source of irritation and eliminate it in time.
Pain response
Pain, for example, is able to perceive the sensitive free nerve endings that penetrate the epidermis. Such receptors respond even to the slightest touch or blow of wind, especially in the area of the hair roots. In addition, the epidermis contains Merkel cells, which are closely connected with sensitive nerves and are capable of producing special substances that stimulate the immune system of the whole organism.
Perception of mechanical factors
The organs of touch responsible for reactions to mechanical stimuli are called
Meissner bodies. They are located in the papillary layers of the skin of the fingers, external genitalia, lips and eyelids. The receptors for pressure are Fatera-Pacini bodies with a plate shape. As a rule, they are localized in the deep subcutaneous layers of the fingers, genitals and internal organs, as well as in the walls of the bladder. Ruffini bodies respond to the displacement of the skin, as well as their excessive squeezing, the accumulation of which is observed in the deep layers of the epidermis of the feet. The end flasks of Krause allow a person to respond to stimuli of the conjunctiva, tongue and external genitalia. Thanks to these receptors, a person can feel a foreign body in the eye and eliminate it in a timely manner, thereby preventing further irritation of the mucosa.
The organs of smell and touch are very important for the normal functioning of people, despite the fact that smell receptors develop only after birth. Undoubtedly, animals are much better able to use such abilities, since their life sometimes depends on it. Many people believe that this function is not important for a person, however, smelling it, we can determine the impending danger long before it appears. In addition, pleasantly smelling things can significantly affect our perception of something or just cheer up. From this we can conclude that nature generously rewarded us with extraordinary abilities that help us live and interact with each other.