Category
page 1Receptor cells
nociceptor
A nociceptor () is a sensory neuron that responds to damaging or potentially damaging stimuli by sending "possible threat" signals to the spinal cord and the brain. The brain creates the sensation of pain to direct attention to the body part, so the threat can be mitigated; this process is called nociception.
sensory neuron
nerve cell that converts environmental stimuli into corresponding internal stimuli
hair cell
auditory nerve cells
baroreceptor
Baroreceptors (or archaically, pressoreceptors) are stretch receptors that sense blood vessel deformation. The term "baroreceptors" is somewhat a misnomer, since they detect stretch rather than pressure directly. Increases in vessel diameter triggers increased action potential generation rates and provides information to the central nervous system. This sensory information is used primarily in autonomic reflexes that in turn influence cardiac output and vascular smooth muscle to influence vascular resistance. Baroreceptors act immediately as part of a negative feedback system called the barore