Final answer:
Pacinian corpuscles are mechanoreceptors found deep in the skin that detect deep, transient pressure and high-frequency vibrations through compression, which activates their internal dendrites.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of Pacinian corpuscles, which are sensory receptors in the skin, are significant in understanding how the human body detects sensory stimuli. These mechanoreceptors are located deep in the dermis of both glabrous (hairless) and hairy skin, and they possess an encapsulated structure that contributes to their ability to sense deep, transient (but not prolonged) pressure and high-frequency vibration. Pacinian corpuscles detect stimuli when they are compressed, which stimulates their internal dendrites, allowing the body to respond to changes in pressure and vibration. Although they are present in other parts of the body, including joints and viscera, there are fewer Pacinian corpuscles as compared to other sensory receptors, such as Merkel's disks and Meissner's corpuscles.