Arkansas Esthetician Practice Exam

What do Meissner's corpuscles detect?

1. Light pressure and cold

2. Heat

3. Pain

4. Deep pressure

The correct answer is: Light pressure and cold

Meissner's corpuscles are sensory receptors found in the skin that are responsible for detecting light touch and pressure. These receptors are sensitive to light pressure, such as stroking or brushing against the skin, as well as temperature changes, specifically cold. This is why option A, light pressure and cold, is the correct answer. Option B, heat, is incorrect because it is detected by a different type of sensory receptor called thermoreceptors. These receptors are responsible for detecting changes in temperature, such as heat or cold, but they do not specifically detect light touch or pressure. Option C, pain, is incorrect because pain receptors, also known as nociceptors, are responsible for detecting tissue damage and intense stimuli, not light touch or pressure. Option D, deep pressure, is incorrect because this type of pressure is detected by Pacinian corpuscles, which are located deeper in the skin and are responsible for detecting deep touch and pressure, not light touch or pressure.