Sensory receptor

Sensory receptors are specialized neural structures (cells or nerve endings) capable of detecting specific types of environmental stimuli, including mechanical forces (mechanoreceptors), chemical signals (chemoreceptors), light (photoreceptors), temperature (thermoreceptors), pain/damage (nociceptors), and more. They play essential roles in converting these signals into electrical or chemical activity in the nervous system, thus enabling perception and homeostatic regulation. Sensory receptors exist as families of molecules, including protein ion channels (mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors), G protein-coupled receptors (photoreceptors, chemoreceptors), and various more specialized receptor protein complexes. Classification is by modality, structure, and location. The term itself represents a physiological concept rather than a discrete therapeutic target, and research or therapeutic interventions focus on specific receptor molecules or subtypes rather than this broad category.

Other names

Sensory nerve endingSensory neuron endingSensory cell