Somatosensation

Overview

SOMATOSENSATION refers to the process that conveys information regarding the body surface and its interaction with the environment. It can be subdivided into:

MECHANORECEPTION - also called discriminative touch
THERMOSENSATION - temperature
NOCICEPTION - painful: mainly chemical, but also mechanical and thermal

information arises from the entire body, but the term SOMATOSENSATION generally excludes information coming from the special senses

SOMATOSENSATION must be distinguished from PROPRIOCEPTION:
- PROPRIORECEPTION: information regarding body movement and position
  - comes from both muscle and joint receptors and the vestibular system

2013 Somatosensation

Overview