Which cutaneous mechanoreceptor is a slowly adapting type 1 unit that signals fine spatial detail such as form, texture, and Braille reading?

• A Merkel cell-neurite complex ✓
• B Pacinian corpuscle
• C Meissner corpuscle
• D Hair follicle receptor

Explanation

Merkel receptors are slowly adapting type 1 units with small receptive fields and dense innervation of fingertips, giving the spatial resolution needed for form and texture perception. Meissner corpuscles are rapidly adapting and signal low-frequency flutter and slip detection, while Pacinian corpuscles sense vibration around 250 Hz and were covered separately as the classic adapting receptor. Hair follicle receptors detect hair movement, not fine fingertip detail.

Reference: Kandel Principles of Neural Science, 5th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.