Final answer:
Pressure receptors, specifically Pacinian corpuscles and Ruffini endings, are located deepest in the skin and are designed to detect deep pressure and stretch. They reside below the surface where receptors for light touch, temperature, and pain are found.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the listed options, pressure receptors are located deepest in the skin. The tactile receptors that are responsible for sensing pressure are the Pacinian corpuscles and Ruffini endings. These reside in the subcutaneous tissue and are adept at detecting deeper pressure and stretch, respectively. Unlike receptors for light touch, temperature, and pain, which are more superficial, the Pacinian corpuscles and Ruffini endings enable the perception of stimuli that require detection through layers of skin.
It's important to note that different sensory receptors are specialized for different modalities. While Merkel's disks and Meissner's corpuscles can detect fine touch, they are located in the upper layers of the skin. The nociceptors, responsible for pain sensation, are also closer to the surface and can detect harmful stimuli that may cause tissue damage. The deeper location of pressure receptors helps in providing a buffer to gentler stimuli, allowing the detection of deeper, firmer pressure that may still be relevant for protection and sensation.