thermoreceptor
1
8.4
A nerve ending in the skin that senses heat and cold
- noun
- /ˌθɜrməˈrɛsɛptər/
- Specialized
:
termorreceptor
- However, there is evidence that local cutaneous thermoreceptors are the initial reflex response to exercise and may trigger the hypothalamus to act on the pituitary gland, which in turn stimulates the sweat glands.
Examples
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The skin has many thermoreceptor cells that help us feel changes in temperature.
-
When you touch something warm, your thermoreceptor neurons send signals to your brain.
-
Animals use thermoreceptors to detect heat from their environment and find food.
Surface Forms
thermoreceptor singular
thermoreceptors plural
Morphology
Etymology
Thermoreceptor begins with thermo- meaning 'heat', the same part you see in thermometer, and ends with -receptor meaning 'to receive'. So a thermoreceptor is a body sensor that 'receives' heat or cold and thus detects temperature changes.