Mechanoreceptors are a big component behind the brain and body being able to perceive touch, but aside from this small piece of information, many people are unfamiliar with mechanoreceptors and how they work. In brief, mechanoreceptors are sensory receptors in the skin. They relay skin stimulation to the nervous system and brain through mechanically gated ion channels.
This means that depending on the type of touch we feel, certain mechanoreceptors tell our brains what we’re experiencing to help us make sense of our world. Let us cover information about the types of mechanoreceptors, their individual mechanisms of action, and examples of touch sensations each mechanoreceptor type is responsible for.