Orofacial

Thermoreceptors
Thermoreceptors
 Definition: They are sensory nerve endings ( free nerve
endings in the epithelium) that respond to a thermal
stimulus.

 Thermal gradation are discriminated by:

 A) cold receptors B) warmth receptors c) pain

receptors which associated with extreme degree of
cold and heat

 Cold receptors are Aδ myelinated nerve endings while

warmth receptors are type C nerve fibers
CONTD
 Position of thermoreceptors:
 The cold and warmth receptors are located

immediately under the skin at discrete separated

spots ( in the epithelium and mucus membrane )

 Skin is generally sensitive to both cold and heat

but most sensitive areas are:
contd
 For Heat receptors: finger tips, nose, elbows
(hence hold hot drinks cupped in hands and
close to face in a cold day)

 For Cold receptors: upper lip, nose ,chin, chest

(hence sip cold drinks on hot day or put fan at
face level)
Sensory Nerve Endings in
Skin
contd
 Number of cold receptors 3-10 times more
than warmth receptors

 Number of cold receptors in orofacial

region:
 a) In lips 15-25/cm²
 b) about 4/cm²in oral cavity
 c) 3/cm² in other facial regions
Stimulation of Thermoreceptors
 In very cold regions, near the freezing point, or when even
skin actually freezes, pain- cold fibers can not be stimulated,
and that is why anesthesia is not needed in cryosurgery

 At 10-15°C pain-cold fibers cease

 Cold fibers reach peak level at 24°C and cease at 40°C

interestingly cold receptors fire again at temperature higher
than 45°C due to damage to cold sensory endings.

 Warmth fibers are stimulated at 30°C but faded out at 50°C

 Heat- pain fibers are stimulated at 45°C

Thermal stimulation
Adaptation of thermoreceptors
 When a cold receptor is suddenly subjected to an abrupt
(rapid) fall in temperature ,it becomes strongly stimulated at
first but this fades rapidly during few seconds, and
progressively more slowly during next 30 minutes but never
100%

 This is why when temperature of skin is actively falling person

fell much colder than when the temperature remains cold at
the same level
 Adaptation of thermoreceptors
Diagram:
Contd

 Thermoreceptors respond transiently to the

direction of a temperature change so the
sensation produced by a small change in
temperature depends on the current skin
temperature. For example, a stimulus of
35°C feels warm if the skin is at 30°C, and
cools if the skin is at 40°C.