Pacinian Corpuscle

The sensitive receptor membrane has sodium channels that open when the membrane is deformed in any way, and is surrounded by several concentric capsules of connective tissue, separated by a viscous gel. In its resting state, the Pacinian corpuscle in cross-section resembles a dartboard with the nerve ending at the bull's eye. Touching the hands or feet makes this epidermal receptor deform into an oval cross-section including the nerve ending. The viscous gel then moves and allows the nerve ending to resume its normal shape. If the pressure is released, the corpuscle as a whole will resume its original shape and the nerve ending is again deformed, signaling the end of the hand or foot pressure. The viscous gel flows back and everything returns back to the normal resting stage. The nerve sends the signal to the somatosensory region of the brain's cerebral cortex, alerting it to the exact location, duration, and intensity of the pressure.