A 10-yrs-old girl with type I diabetes develops a neuropathy limited to sensory neurons with free nerve endings. Quantitative sensory testing will reveal higher-than-normal thresholds for the detection of which of the following?
A. Fine touch
B. Vibration
C. Pressure
D. Temperature
The Answer is D. Free nerve
endings contain receptors for temperature, pain, and crude touch. However, fine
touch, pressure, and vibration are detected by nerve endings contained within
specialized capsules that transmit the stimulus to the sensory receptors.
Muscle length is encoded by the primary nerve endings of Ia fibers, which are
located on intrafusal fibers within the muscle spindle.
