Hair follicle receptors are nerve endings wrapped around and running along the roots of hair follicles in hairy skin. When a hair bends, the follicle moves and stimulates these endings. They include rapidly adapting lanceolate endings and circumferential endings, and are linked to Merkel cells near some follicles.
| Location | Around hair follicles in hairy skin throughout the body |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | A-beta, A-delta and C-tactile sensory fibres of the regional cutaneous nerves |
| Blood Supply | Perifollicular capillary network |
Detect bending of hairs and light movement across hairy skin.
Hair follicle receptors explain why we feel even slight hair movement, such as an insect landing on the arm. In hairy skin, which lacks Meissner corpuscles, they are the main detectors of light moving touch. Slow C-tactile fibres around follicles respond to gentle stroking and are thought to support pleasant, social touch.
Pain from normally harmless touch, such as brushing hair or clothing, seen in neuropathic pain and conditions like shingles.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
