The Pacinian Bodies

It records vibrations

Pacinian bodies are rapidly adapting receptors that detect gross pressure changes and vibrations in the skin.

The Pacinian bodies (corpuscles) which are part of the nervous system, consist of 20 to 70 layers of fibroblasts, which form concentric spheres, between which there are layers of liquid and thin collagen fibers. 

Fig. 1 - Pacinian corpuscle c.s. Motic AE31E PlanApo 20X.

Moticam 10+. Image credit: Willem Cramer

Fig. 2 - Pacinian corpuscle c.s. Motic AE31E PlanApo 40X.

Moticam 10+. Image credit: Willem Cramer

A body can be up to 1 mm in size. In a cross-section, such a body looks like the cut surface of a sliced onion. Central is a dendrite. A Pacinian body registers vibrations of 50-700 Hz. They are numerous in, for instance, the dermis of the fingers.

• Fibroblasts ensure tissue retention. The largest function is the production of collagen.
• Collagen fibers are responsible for the firmness and resilience of tissue.
• A dendrite is a branched extension of a nerve cell.

Sample: Pacinian corpuscle viewed through Motic AE31E PlanApo 20X and 40X. Recorded with Moticam 10+. 

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