Epicritic

Epicritic: how our tactile sensitivity works

The sensory system plays an important role in our lives, allowing us to interact with the world around us. One important aspect of such a system is tactile sensitivity, which allows us to distinguish between different types of sensory input on the skin. One of the key elements that provides tactile sensitivity is the epicritic or “fine” mechanism.

The epicritic mechanism is a set of sensory nerve fibers that are responsible for discerning fine details in sensory inputs to the skin. These nerve fibers are located in the top layer of the skin and respond to light touch, temperature changes and other stimuli.

One of the key elements of the epicritic mechanism is its ability to locate sensory input on the skin. To do this, the system uses mechanisms that allow it to compare signals from different receptors in different places in the body. This allows us, for example, to pinpoint where the source of the touch is and react accordingly.

Compared to other mechanisms of tactile sensitivity, such as the protopathic mechanism, which responds to coarser sensory inputs, the epicritic mechanism allows us to discern finer details in tactile inputs. For example, it allows us to recognize different surface textures and identify small details in objects we hold in our hands.

It is important to note that the epicritic mechanism is closely related to other elements of skin sensitivity, such as mechanisms of pain sensitivity and sensory nerve fibers responsible for responding to changes in temperature. Together they form a complex system that allows us to interact with the world around us.

In conclusion, the epicritic mechanism is a key element of our tactile sensitivity, which allows us to discern small details in sensory inputs on the skin and determine their location on the surface of the body. It works closely with other sensory elements of the skin and is integral to our ability to interact with the world around us.



The epicritic reflex (or Epicritic) is a term used in physiology and neuroscience to describe the process of perceiving sensory nerve fibers. This process allows a person to distinguish between light touches and temperature stimuli and determine their location.

The epicritic reflex is the opposite of the protopathic reflex, which refers to more primitive forms of perception. The protocapic reflex does not distinguish subtle differences in sensations, but instead responds to stronger stimuli.

In the human body, epicritic fibers are found in the skin and other sensory organs. They are responsible for the ability to distinguish light touches and determine the location of stimuli on the surface of the body. For example, a person can feel where his hand is on the table, even if the touch is very weak.

In addition, epicritic nerves are involved in temperature perception. They allow a person to determine how hot or cold an object he is holding in his hands is. This is important in everyday life, since we are constantly faced with different temperatures and want to know how dangerous they are for our health.

It is important to note that epicritic nerve fibers are just one of many aspects of human perception. There are other forms of perception, such as the proprioceptive reflex, which is responsible for the sense of balance and movement.

In summary, the epicritic reflex is an important perceptual process that allows a person to discern subtle differences in sensory stimuli. It plays an important role in our daily lives and helps us navigate our environment.



The epicric mechanism of nervous sensations develops in the process of phylogenesis along with the development of tactile receptors in the skin. Thanks to the subtle adaptation of the nervous system to changes in external conditions, the organization of both central and peripheral and intermediate structures responsible for the perception of epicric sensations is strengthened.

To compare protopathic sensations, it is worth noting that they are formed during the process of ontogenesis and are congenital. These receptors are located deeper in the skin than the epicritic ones, that is, sensory neurocytes associated with the epicritic receptors and located closer to the spinal cord. According to scientists, epicric receptors have