The fine structure of lamellated receptors in the skin of Rana Esculenta

Abstract

Lamellated encapsulated nerve terminals up to 0.4 mm in length are located in the skin in the outer part of the zona compacta. In the palmar side of the fingers the receptors are abundant and relatively small in size. In larger corpuscles a capsular space is evident. One main axon posesses up to six lamellated encapsulated corpuscles, as shown by reconstructions of serial sections. These axons (diameter 8–12 μ) belong to the largest fibers in cutaneous nerves. We assume these lamellated encapsulated corpuscles to be rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors.