noun
- Sensory nerve endings or receptors that detect harmful or potentially damaging stimuli and transmit pain signals to the brain.
Usage: plural form; used in neuroscience and medical contexts; typically refers to specialized nerve fibers that respond to temperature, pressure, or chemical irritants
Examples
- Nociceptors in your skin alert your nervous system when you touch a hot surface.
- When you burn your hand, nociceptors fire rapidly to signal pain to your brain.
- Different types of nociceptors respond to heat, cold, and mechanical pressure.
- Researchers study nociceptors to develop better pain management treatments.
- Capsaicin, the compound in chili peppers, activates nociceptors and creates a burning sensation.