Final answer:
The element that refers to the tactile qualities is texture, which is the feeling of a surface as experienced through touch or as visually represented in art.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element that refers to the tactile qualities is texture. Texture describes the feeling of a surface, which may be rough or smooth, and can be experienced through touch or visually suggested in art. This sensation is detected by various receptors in the skin, such as mechanoreceptors for pressure and vibration, thermoreceptors for temperature, and nociceptors for pain. These tactile receptors help us experience the world through touch, providing critical information about our surroundings, an ability that is part of the five natural powers including taste, smell, sight, and hearing. In the realm of art, texture can be an actual physical quality of the medium used or a visual effect created by the artist's techniques to simulate different tactile sensations.