What are Exteroceptors?
Exteroceptors are sensory receptors that are situated on or close to the body’s surface and are in charge of sensing exterior stimuli like pain, pressure, temperature, and touch. The nervous system receives information from these receptors, which are present in the skin, mucous membranes, and some internal organs, about the environment around the body.
Exteroceptors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors, nociceptors, and photoreceptors. Although thermoreceptors react to changes in temperature, mechanoreceptors react to mechanical stimuli including pressure, touch, and vibration. Photoreceptors are responsible for detecting light and are found in the eyes, while nociceptors are specialized receptors that react to potentially damaging or painful stimuli.
Exteroceptor data is transmitted to the brain, where it is processed and used to produce a sensory perception of the surrounding environment. To avoid danger, maintain body temperature, and recognize and react to stimuli like light and sound, the body needs this knowledge to react to changes in the external environment.
Difference Between Exteroceptors And Interoceptors
The human body contains two different kinds of sensory receptors called interoceptors and exteroceptors, both of which are essential for receiving and sending sensory data to the brain. On the surface of the body, exteroceptors are specialized nerve endings that react to external stimuli like touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. The body’s deep-lying interoceptors, in contrast, are nerve endings that react to internal stimuli such as variations in blood pressure, pH, and oxygen levels. In the domains of anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience, it is crucial to comprehend the distinction between exteroceptors and interoceptors because it clarifies how the body perceives, reacts to, and maintains internal homeostasis.
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