Sensory organ for responding to texture is: September 2009
**Core Concept**
The sense of touch, which includes the perception of texture, is mediated by mechanoreceptors in the skin. These receptors respond to mechanical stimuli, such as pressure and vibration, allowing us to perceive the texture of objects.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is the sensory organ responsible for detecting texture through mechanoreceptors. The **Meissner's corpuscles** are specialized receptors found in the dermal papillae of the skin, particularly in areas with high tactile sensitivity, such as the fingertips and lips. They respond to light touch and changes in texture, allowing us to perceive the texture of objects.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because Meissner's corpuscles are not responsible for detecting other senses such as pain, temperature, or proprioception.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because Ruffini's corpuscles are mechanoreceptors that respond to sustained pressure and skin stretch, not texture.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because Pacinian corpuscles are mechanoreceptors that respond to deep pressure and vibration, not texture.
**Option D:** This option is incorrect because free nerve endings are responsible for detecting pain, temperature, and other sensations, not texture.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember that the sense of touch is mediated by multiple types of mechanoreceptors, each with distinct response characteristics. Meissner's corpuscles are responsible for detecting light touch and texture, while Ruffini's corpuscles respond to sustained pressure.
**Correct Answer:** B. Meissner's corpuscles are specialized mechanoreceptors in the skin responsible for detecting texture.