Demonstration II: Meissner's Corpuscle

Meissner's Corpuscles are touch receptors located near the surface of the skin. This slide is a specially prepared cross section of human skin which includes several Meissner's corpuscles. Use the diagram below to orient yourself. Notice that the boundary between the dermis and epidermis is not flat; a number of fingerlike projections of the dermis project into the epidermis. These are called dermal papillae (unlabeled, but visible in the low magnification image).  Meissner's corpuscles are located at the tips of these dermal papillae. Each corpuscle consists of a number of flattened layers of cells, each with an elongated nucleus. The neuron within is coiled among these cells, but you will not be able to see the neuron. When the corpuscle is deformed by pressure the nerve endings are stimulated, registering the sensation of touch.