Fingertip

Have you heard of fingerprints, the patterns in the skin at the tips of our fingers? No-one has the same fingerprints as you, but what are they for?

The skin contains sensory organs that react to irritations such as pressure, touch, pain and temperature. The density of these sensory receptors depends on the body part. Those sensitive to touch have a greater density in areas such as the fingertips – here the distance between the receptors is 2-3 mm.

Mechanoreceptors in the skin send impulses to the spinal cord and brain via the nerve system. As a result, this can help us feel when something is too cold or too hot, for example.

Sensation is usually divided into four categories:

• Tactile sensation, for example when we are touched, feel different surfaces, textures and vibrations.
• Pain.
• Cold.
• Heat.