Sensory Receptors of the Skin

Two Point Threshold

Name: _________________________________

View under the microscope Meissners corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles. Meissners corpuscles respond to
touch or light pressure. Notice that its connective tissue capsule is located in a dermal papilla (small nipple-like
projection). Draw your observations.

Meissners Corpuscles
Next, view the much larger Pacinian corpuscles, which responds to deep pressure as indicated by its location
much deeper in the dermis. What vegetable does its structure remind you of?

Pacinian Corpuscles
There are several simple experiments you can conduct to investigate the location and physiology of cutaneous
receptors. In each of the following activities, work in pairs with one person as the subject and the other as the
experimenter. After you have completed an experiment, switch roles and go through the procedures again so
that all class members obtain individual results. Keep an accurate account of each test that you perform.

Procedure: Determining the Two-Point Threshold

The density of the touch receptors varies significantly in different areas of the body. In general, areas that has
the greatest density of tactile receptors have a heightened ability to feel. These areas correspond to areas that
receive the greatest motor innervation; thus, they are also typically areas of fine motor control. Table 1 below
shows a few types of skin receptors, the kinds of input they detect, and the adaptation rate when stimulated.
Lets check it out!
Receptor
Merkels disk
Meissners corpuscles
Ruffinis corpuscles
Pacinian corpuscles
Hair receptor

Stimulus
Steady indentation
Low freq. vibration
Rapid indentation
Vibration
Hair deflection

Sensation
Pressure
Gentle fluttering
Stretch
Vibration
Brushing

Adaptation
Slow
Rapid
Slow
Rapid
Rapid or slow

1. Using a caliper and a metric ruler, test the ability of the subject to differentiate two distinct sensations when
the skin is touched simultaneously at two points. Beginning with the face, start with the caliper arms
completely together. Gradually increase the distance between the arms, testing the subjects skin after each
adjustment. Continue with this testing procedure until the subject reports that two points of contact can be
felt. This measurement, the smallest distance at which two points of contact can be felt, is the two-point
threshold. Detecting two-point threshold depends on activating two separate populations of neurons.
2. Repeat this procedure on the back and palm of the hand, fingertips, lips, back of the neck, and ventral
forearm. Record your results in the chart below.
3. Which area has the smallest two-point threshold? _________________________
4. Which type of receptor was stimulated? _________________________________
Body area tested

Two-point threshold (millimeters)

Face
Back of Hand
Palm of Hand
Fingertips
Lips
Back of Neck
Ventral Forearm

Activity: Testing Tactile Localization

Tactile localization is the ability to determine which portion of the skin has been touched. The tactile receptor
field of the body periphery has a corresponding touch field in the brain. Some body areas are well
represented with touch receptors, and tactile stimuli can be localized with great accuracy, but density of touch
receptors in other body areas allows only crude discrimination.

1. The subjects eyes should be closed during the testing. The experimenter touches the palm of the
subjects hand with a pointed black felt-tipped marker. The subject should then try to touch the exact
point with his or her own marker, which should be a different color. Measure the error of localization in
millimeters.
2. Repeat the test in the same spot twice more, recording the error of localization for each test. Average
the results of the three determinations and record it in the chart below.
Body area tested

Average error of localization

(millimeters)

Palm of Hand
Fingertip
Ventral forearm
Back of Hand
Back of Neck

3. Does the ability to localize the stimulus improve the second time? The third time? Explain.

4. Repeat the above procedure on a fingertip, ventral forearm, back of hand, and back of neck. Record the
average of three trials in the chart above.
5. Which area has the smallest error of localization (most sensitive to touch)?
6. Which type of receptor was stimulated? _________________________________
Analysis:
1. Create a graph using graphing paper.

2. Draw a distorted picture of a person, called homunculus or little man, which reflects the sensitivity
of receiving sensations. For example, the fingertips contain about 100 times more receptors per square
centimeter than the skin on the back. In fact, there are 2,500 receptors in a square centimeter of a
fingertip! Therefore, draw large fingertips and a small back.