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The Mucocutaneous End-Organ: The Primary Organized Sensory Ending in Human Skin

The Mucocutaneous End-Organ: The Primary Organized Sensory Ending in Human Skin Abstract The regions of transition between haired skin and mucous membranes are well known for their exquisite sensory perception. The lip, the eyelid, the perianal region, and the external genitalia are such glabrous intermediate zones of heightened sensitivity. A verified pattern of innervation and function has been derived from observation of these regions. It is the purpose of this study to demonstrate the special structure of the sensory end-organs in this type of skin and to show the fundamental relationship between these nerve endings and the other neural structures of the human integument. When the term "end-organ" is used, it implies organization or special morphologic arrangement of nerve structures. Review of the Literature End-bulbs, or "terminalkörperchen," were described originally by Krause,1 in 1858, who macerated the tissues in acetic acid before microscopic examination References 1. Krause, W.: Über die Nervenendigungen , Ztschr. rat. Med. 5:28-43, 1859. 2. Krause, W.: Die terminalen Körperchen der einfach sensiblen Nerven , Hanover, Hahn, 1860. 3. Krause, W.: On the Termination of the Nerves in the Conjunctiva , J. Anat. 1:346, 1867. 4. Krause, W.: Die Nervenendigung innerhalb der terminalen Körperchen , Arch. mikr. Anat. 19:53-136, 1881.Crossref 5. Krause, W.: Über die Nervenendigung in den Geschlechtsorganen der terminalen Körperchen , Ztschr. rat. Med. 28:86-88, 1866. 6. Merkel, F. S.: Über die Endigungen der sensiblen Nerven in der Haut der Wirbelthiere , Rostock, H. Schmidt, 1880. 7. Dogiel, A. S.: Über die Nervenendapparate in der Haut des Menschen , Ztschr. wissensch. Zoöl . 75:46-111, 1903. 8. Dogiel, A. S.: Die Nervenendigungen in der Haut der äusseren Genitalorgane des Menschen , Arch. mikr. Anat. 41:585-612, 1893.Crossref 9. Schwalbe, G.: Lehrbuch der Anatomie der Sinnesorgane , Erlangen, E. Besold, 1887, pp. 4-38. 10. Ruffini, A.: Les dispositifs anatomiques de la sensibilité cutanée: Sur les expansions nerveuses de la peau , Lyon and Paris, A. Storck & Co., 1905, pp. 421-450. 11. Strughold, H., and Karbe, M.: Die Topographie des Kältesinnes auf Cornea und Conjunctiva, ein Beitrag zur Frage nach den spezifischen Empfängern desselben , Ztschr. Biol. 83:189-200, 1925. 12. Woollard, H. H.: Observations on the Terminations of Cutaneous Nerves , Brain 58:352-367, 1935.Crossref 13. Weddell, G.: Anatomy of Cutaneous Sensibility , Brit. M. Bull. 3:167-172, 1945. 14. Hagen, E.; Knoche, H.; Sinclair, D. C., and Weddell, G.: Role of Specialized Nerve Terminals in Cutaneous Sensibility , Proc. Roy. Soc., London , s. B. 141:279-287, 1953.Crossref 15. Belonoschkin, B.: Über die Kältrezeptoren der Haut , Ztschr. Biol. 93:487-489, 1933. 16. Gairns, F. W., and Aitchison, J.: A Preliminary Study of the Multiplicity of Nerve Endings in the Human Gum , Dent. Rec. 70:180-194, 1950. 17. Cathcart, E. P.; Gairns, F. W., and Garven, H. S. D.: The Innervation of the Human Quiescent Nipple, with Notes on Pigmentation, Erection, and Hyperneury , Tr. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 61:699-717, 1948.Crossref 18. Jaeger, H.: Recherches histologiques sur les terminaisons nerveuses dans la peau normale des organes génitaux externes humains , Dermatologica. 90:49-74, 1944.Crossref 19. Ohmori, D.: Über die Entwicklung der Innervation der Genitalapparate als peripheren Aufnahmeapparat der genitalen Reflexe , Ztschr. Anat. u. Entwickl. 70:347-410, 1924.Crossref 20. Kantner, M.: Studien über den sensiblen Apparat in der Glans Penis , Anat. Anz. 99:159-179, 1952. 21. Weddell, G.: Somesthesis and the Chemical Senses , Ann. Rev. Psychol. 6:119-136, 1955.Crossref 22. Sinclair, D. C.: Cutaneous Sensation and the Doctrine of Specific Energy , Brain 78:584-614, 1955.Crossref 23. Lele, P. P.: Relationship Between Cutaneous Thermal Thresholds, Skin Temperature and Cross-Sectional Area of the Stimulus , J. Physiol. 126:191-205, 1954. 24. Lele, P. P.; Weddell, G., and Williams, C. M.: The Relationship Between Heat Transfer, Skin Temperature and Cutaneous Sensibility , J. Physiol. 126:206-234, 1954. 25. Sinclair, D. C.; Weddell, G., and Zander, E.: The Relationship of Cutaneous Sensibility to Neurohistology in the Human Pinna , J. Anat. 86:402-411, 1952. 26. Winkelmann, R. K., and Osment, L. S.: The Vater-Pacinian Corpuscle in the Skin of the Human Finger Tip , A. M. A. Arch. Dermat. 73:116-122, 1956.Crossref 27. Winkelmann, R. K.: Contributions to the Neuroanatomy of the Skin, Thesis, Graduate School, University of Minnesota, 1956. 28. Winkelmann, R. K.: The Cutaneous Innervation of the Human Newborn Prepuce , J. Invest. Dermat. 26:53-67, 1956.Crossref 29. Winkelmann, R. K.: Some Sensory Nerve Endings in the Skin: Preliminary Report on the Morphology of Cutaneous Sensation , A. M. A. Arch. Dermat. 71:373-378, 1955.Crossref 30. Stöhr, P., Jr.: Die peripherische Nervenfaser, in Handbuch der Mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen , Berlin, Spring-Verlag, 1928, Vol. 4, Pt. (1) , pp. 143-195. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png A.M.A. Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

The Mucocutaneous End-Organ: The Primary Organized Sensory Ending in Human Skin

WINKELMANN, R. K.
A.M.A. Archives of Dermatology , Volume 76 (2) – Aug 1, 1957
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References (31)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1957 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0096-5359
DOI
10.1001/archderm.1957.01550200069015
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Abstract

Abstract The regions of transition between haired skin and mucous membranes are well known for their exquisite sensory perception. The lip, the eyelid, the perianal region, and the external genitalia are such glabrous intermediate zones of heightened sensitivity. A verified pattern of innervation and function has been derived from observation of these regions. It is the purpose of this study to demonstrate the special structure of the sensory end-organs in this type of skin and to show the fundamental relationship between these nerve endings and the other neural structures of the human integument. When the term "end-organ" is used, it implies organization or special morphologic arrangement of nerve structures. Review of the Literature End-bulbs, or "terminalkörperchen," were described originally by Krause,1 in 1858, who macerated the tissues in acetic acid before microscopic examination References 1. Krause, W.: Über die Nervenendigungen , Ztschr. rat. Med. 5:28-43, 1859. 2. Krause, W.: Die terminalen Körperchen der einfach sensiblen Nerven , Hanover, Hahn, 1860. 3. Krause, W.: On the Termination of the Nerves in the Conjunctiva , J. Anat. 1:346, 1867. 4. Krause, W.: Die Nervenendigung innerhalb der terminalen Körperchen , Arch. mikr. Anat. 19:53-136, 1881.Crossref 5. Krause, W.: Über die Nervenendigung in den Geschlechtsorganen der terminalen Körperchen , Ztschr. rat. Med. 28:86-88, 1866. 6. Merkel, F. S.: Über die Endigungen der sensiblen Nerven in der Haut der Wirbelthiere , Rostock, H. Schmidt, 1880. 7. Dogiel, A. S.: Über die Nervenendapparate in der Haut des Menschen , Ztschr. wissensch. Zoöl . 75:46-111, 1903. 8. Dogiel, A. S.: Die Nervenendigungen in der Haut der äusseren Genitalorgane des Menschen , Arch. mikr. Anat. 41:585-612, 1893.Crossref 9. Schwalbe, G.: Lehrbuch der Anatomie der Sinnesorgane , Erlangen, E. Besold, 1887, pp. 4-38. 10. Ruffini, A.: Les dispositifs anatomiques de la sensibilité cutanée: Sur les expansions nerveuses de la peau , Lyon and Paris, A. Storck & Co., 1905, pp. 421-450. 11. Strughold, H., and Karbe, M.: Die Topographie des Kältesinnes auf Cornea und Conjunctiva, ein Beitrag zur Frage nach den spezifischen Empfängern desselben , Ztschr. Biol. 83:189-200, 1925. 12. Woollard, H. H.: Observations on the Terminations of Cutaneous Nerves , Brain 58:352-367, 1935.Crossref 13. Weddell, G.: Anatomy of Cutaneous Sensibility , Brit. M. Bull. 3:167-172, 1945. 14. Hagen, E.; Knoche, H.; Sinclair, D. C., and Weddell, G.: Role of Specialized Nerve Terminals in Cutaneous Sensibility , Proc. Roy. Soc., London , s. B. 141:279-287, 1953.Crossref 15. Belonoschkin, B.: Über die Kältrezeptoren der Haut , Ztschr. Biol. 93:487-489, 1933. 16. Gairns, F. W., and Aitchison, J.: A Preliminary Study of the Multiplicity of Nerve Endings in the Human Gum , Dent. Rec. 70:180-194, 1950. 17. Cathcart, E. P.; Gairns, F. W., and Garven, H. S. D.: The Innervation of the Human Quiescent Nipple, with Notes on Pigmentation, Erection, and Hyperneury , Tr. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 61:699-717, 1948.Crossref 18. Jaeger, H.: Recherches histologiques sur les terminaisons nerveuses dans la peau normale des organes génitaux externes humains , Dermatologica. 90:49-74, 1944.Crossref 19. Ohmori, D.: Über die Entwicklung der Innervation der Genitalapparate als peripheren Aufnahmeapparat der genitalen Reflexe , Ztschr. Anat. u. Entwickl. 70:347-410, 1924.Crossref 20. Kantner, M.: Studien über den sensiblen Apparat in der Glans Penis , Anat. Anz. 99:159-179, 1952. 21. Weddell, G.: Somesthesis and the Chemical Senses , Ann. Rev. Psychol. 6:119-136, 1955.Crossref 22. Sinclair, D. C.: Cutaneous Sensation and the Doctrine of Specific Energy , Brain 78:584-614, 1955.Crossref 23. Lele, P. P.: Relationship Between Cutaneous Thermal Thresholds, Skin Temperature and Cross-Sectional Area of the Stimulus , J. Physiol. 126:191-205, 1954. 24. Lele, P. P.; Weddell, G., and Williams, C. M.: The Relationship Between Heat Transfer, Skin Temperature and Cutaneous Sensibility , J. Physiol. 126:206-234, 1954. 25. Sinclair, D. C.; Weddell, G., and Zander, E.: The Relationship of Cutaneous Sensibility to Neurohistology in the Human Pinna , J. Anat. 86:402-411, 1952. 26. Winkelmann, R. K., and Osment, L. S.: The Vater-Pacinian Corpuscle in the Skin of the Human Finger Tip , A. M. A. Arch. Dermat. 73:116-122, 1956.Crossref 27. Winkelmann, R. K.: Contributions to the Neuroanatomy of the Skin, Thesis, Graduate School, University of Minnesota, 1956. 28. Winkelmann, R. K.: The Cutaneous Innervation of the Human Newborn Prepuce , J. Invest. Dermat. 26:53-67, 1956.Crossref 29. Winkelmann, R. K.: Some Sensory Nerve Endings in the Skin: Preliminary Report on the Morphology of Cutaneous Sensation , A. M. A. Arch. Dermat. 71:373-378, 1955.Crossref 30. Stöhr, P., Jr.: Die peripherische Nervenfaser, in Handbuch der Mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen , Berlin, Spring-Verlag, 1928, Vol. 4, Pt. (1) , pp. 143-195.

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A.M.A. Archives of Dermatology – American Medical Association

Published: Aug 1, 1957

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