nociceptor
nounEtymology Coined by English neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington in 1906, originally in the spelling noci-ceptor, from noceō + clipped form of receptor, signifying pain detection.
1
Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences A sensory receptor that sends signals that cause the perception of pain in response to a potentially damaging stimulus.
- He divides receptors into three classes— "nociceptors", such as the nerve-endings for pain and hunger, "beneceptors", such as the nerve-endings stimulated when sugar melts on the tongue, and "neutroceptors", such as the nerve-endings in the eye and ear, called " neutroceptors" because they receive more or less indiscriminately both pleasant and unpleasant messages.1929, The Australasian Journal of Psychology and Philosophy, page 310:
- The “beneceptors,” “nociceptors,” and "neutroceptors” generally signalled stimuli that were, respectively, beneficial, harmful, or neutral as regards the organism or its species.1973, Behaviorism, page 42:
- Related terms
- nociceptin, nociception, nociceptive