The organs of touch are special receptors that are localized in the skin, tendons, muscles, joints and mucous membranes. With the help of such perceiving devices, the human body reacts to the complex effects of surrounding stimuli: pain, temperature and mechanical. In the skin, the organs of touch are distributed unevenly, 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. With such innate abilities, a person can prevent serious damage and injury to the body.
How does the sense of touch work?
Receiving receptors send nerve impulses to the cerebral cortex of the head, where the skin sensitivity analyzers are located. Since the main organ of touch is the skin, even with the slightest impact on its areas, information is read and processed in the head, which allows a person to quickly respond to the source of irritation and eliminate it in time.
Pain response
Pain sensations, for example, are able to perceive sensitive free nerve endings that penetrate the thickness of the epidermis. Such receptors react even to the slightest touch or breath of wind, especially in the area of hair roots. In addition, the epidermis contains Merkel cells, which have a close connection with sensory nerves and are able to produce special substances that stimulate the immune system of the whole body.
Perception of mechanical factors
The organs of touch responsible for reactions to mechanical stimuli are called Meissner's bodies. They are located in the papillary layers of the skin of the fingers, external genitalia, lips and eyelids. Pressure receptors are Vater-Pacini bodies, which have a lamellar shape. As a rule, they are localized in the deep subcutaneous layers of the fingers, genital and internal organs, as well as in the walls of the bladder. Ruffini's bodies react 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. Krause end flasks allow a person to respond to irritants of the conjunctiva, tongue and external genitalia. It is thanks to such receptors that a person can feel a foreign body in the eye and eliminate it in a timely manner, thereby preventing further irritation of the mucous membrane.
The organs of smell and touch are very important for the normal life of people, despite the fact that odor receptors develop only afterbirth. Undoubtedly, animals are much better able to use such abilities, because their life sometimes depends on it. Many believe that this function is not important for a person, however, by smelling, we can determine the impending danger long before it appears. In addition, pleasantly smelling things can significantly affect our perception of something or simply cheer up. From this we can conclude that nature has generously rewarded us with extraordinary abilities that help us live and interact with each other.
