Final answer:
The true statements concerning receptors for general senses in the skin are that they include thermoreceptors. Other statements are false; receptors in the skin are key for the sense of touch and transmit signals to the brain, not just the spinal cord. Taste perception is related to receptors in the tongue, not the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The receptors for general senses in the skin are diverse and include various types such as thermoreceptors, which are sensitive to temperature changes. These receptors play a crucial role in the sense of touch by detecting different tactile stimuli, including temperature, pressure, texture, and pain. For example, some receptors like the Pacinian corpuscle respond to vibrations while others like the Meissner's corpuscle are sensitive to light touch. Sensory information from these receptors is then transmitted via nerve pathways to the brain for interpretation and response.
Regarding the question about which statements are true concerning receptors for general senses in the skin, here are the accurate selections:
- a. They include thermoreceptors: True, thermoreceptors in the skin are responsible for detecting temperature changes.
- b. They are responsible for taste perception: False, taste perception is a special sense that involves specific receptors located in the tongue, not the skin.
- c. They do not contribute to the sense of touch: False, receptors in the skin, such as mechanoreceptors and nociceptors, are essential for the sense of touch.
- d. They transmit signals exclusively to the spinal cord: False, while the spinal cord is a primary pathway for sensory information, signals also travel to other areas like the thalamus and somatosensory cortex in the brain.