Final answer:
The type of receptor that detects touch, pressure, stretch, or vibration is the mechanoreceptor. Mechanoreceptors are specialized sensory cells in the skin that convert physical stimuli into nerve impulses for the brain. option Mechanoreceptor
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of receptor that detects touch, pressure, stretch, or vibration is the mechanoreceptor. These mechanoreceptors are specialized sensory cells found primarily in the skin that are responsible for converting physical stimuli from the external environment into nerve impulses that can be interpreted by the brain.
They exist in various forms, such as encapsulated receptors like Meissner's corpuscles, which respond to light touch and pressure, and Pacinian corpuscles, which detect deep pressure and vibration. Unencapsulated mechanoreceptors include free nerve endings that can respond to light touch as well. These receptors play a crucial role in our ability to sense the environment around us and are integral to the sense of touch.
It's important to note that while mechanoreceptors are responsible for the detection of mechanical stimuli, other types of receptors such as thermoreceptors detect temperature, nociceptors detect pain, and chemoreceptors detect chemical stimuli like taste and smell.