Types of Sensory Receptors

Sensory receptors are organized into five groups; mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors, electromagnetic receptors, thermoreceptors, and pain receptors. Mechanoreceptors are receptors stimulated by physical stimuli. They respond to mechanical energy pressure such as pressure, touch, stretch, motion, and sound. Chemoreceptors include general receptors that monitor solute concentration and specific receptors that respond to important molecules. Response to different forms electromagnetic energy is caused by electromagnetic receptors. The forms of electromagnetic energy can be visible light, electricity, and magnetism. Thermoreceptors are found in the skin and hypothalamus. These receptors respond to either heat or cold and help maintain body temperature. Pain receptors are naked dendrites in the epidermis. They respond to excess heat, pressure, or chemicals released by injured or inflamed cells.