What is the Difference Between Tonic and Phasic Receptors?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Tonic and phasic receptors are two types of sensory receptors that differ in their adaptation rate to stimuli. Here are the main differences between them:
- Tonic Receptors: These receptors adapt slowly to a stimulus and convey messages about the duration of the stimulus. They respond to the stimulus as long as it persists and produce a continuous frequency of action potentials. Examples of tonic receptors include pain receptors, muscle spindle, joint capsule, and Ruffini corpuscle.
- Phasic Receptors: These receptors adapt rapidly to a stimulus and convey messages about the changes in the stimulus, such as intensity. They respond quickly to stimuli but stop responding upon continuous stimulation, leading to a decrease in action potential frequency during prolonged stimulation. An example of a phasic receptor is the Pacinian corpuscle.
In summary, tonic receptors are slow-adapting receptors that provide information about the duration of a stimulus, while phasic receptors are rapid-adapting receptors that convey information about changes in the stimulus.
Comparative Table: Tonic vs Phasic Receptors
Here is a table summarizing the differences between tonic and phasic receptors:
Feature | Tonic Receptors | Phasic Receptors |
---|---|---|
Response to Stimulus | Steady and sustained response as long as the stimulus is present | Respond to changes in stimulus intensity or frequency |
Adaptation | Gradually adapt to the stimulus | Rapidly adapt to the stimulus and gradually decrease their response over time |
Information Transmitted | Provide information that a stimulus is present and its strength | Provide information on how a stimulus changes, specifically the rate of change of the stimulus |
Nerve Impulse Frequency | Slow to decrease and may remain if the stimulus remains | Rapid response that decreases in time |
Examples | Pain receptors, muscle spindle, joint capsule, and Ruffini corpuscle | Pacinian corpuscle |
Tonic receptors convey messages about the duration of the stimulus, while phasic receptors convey messages about the changes in the stimulus. Tonic receptors are slow-adapting and provide a graded response, whereas phasic receptors are fast-adapting and provide a rapid response that decreases in time.
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