Final answer:
Meissner's corpuscles are the small receptors located at the tips of epidermal sweat ridges, responsive to light touch and vibration, and are encapsulated. They are situated in the upper dermis and would be less affected compared to free nerve endings if the epidermis experiences a burn.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small receptor field located on the tip of the epithermal sweat ridges is Meissner's corpuscle. These are rapidly adapting, encapsulated mechanoreceptors that are sensitive to light touch and low-frequency vibration, making them particularly abundant in areas sensitive to fine touch, such as the fingertips and lips. Unlike Merkel's disks which are unencapsulated, Meissner's corpuscles are encapsulated and found in the more upper parts of the skin. If the epidermis is burned, the type of receptor most likely to be affected would be the free nerve endings which are close to the surface and sensitive to nociception (pain), as well as temperature changes.