Final answer:
Free nerve endings in the skin are specialized for detecting temperature variations and pain through thermoreceptors and nociceptors, which convey information to the brain for interpretation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some of the free nerve endings in your skin are specialized to detect information about temperature changes and pain. The skin contains various sensory structures that allow us to perceive our environment. Free nerve endings are responsible for the sensations of thermoreception and nociception.
Thermoreceptors, located in the dermis and other body tissues, are activated by different temperatures and can detect both warmth and cold. These receptors transmit sensory information to the brain through pathways that involve the spinal cord, the thalamus, and ultimately the primary somatosensory cortex. Similarly, nociceptors are activated by potentially damaging stimuli, which can include mechanical, chemical, or thermal threats and are perceived as pain.