Reference Terms
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Sensory neuron
A sensory neuron is a type of nerve cell that carries information from the body’s sensory receptors to the central nervous system. These neurons detect external stimuli such as touch, temperature, pain, sound, light, and chemical signals, converting them into electrical impulses that travel to the brain and spinal cord for processing. This allows the body to perceive and react to its environment.
Sensory neurons are found throughout the body, with specialized endings adapted to different types of stimuli. For example, mechanoreceptors detect pressure and vibration, while nociceptors respond to pain and thermoreceptors sense changes in temperature. Their cell bodies are typically located in structures called dorsal root ganglia, just outside the spinal cord.
Damage to sensory neurons can lead to numbness, tingling, pain, or loss of sensation, and is a key feature in conditions like peripheral neuropathy and multiple sclerosis. Sensory neurons are essential for awareness, safety, and coordination, providing the brain with the raw data it needs to make decisions and initiate responses.
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