Final answer:
Massage movements stimulate underlying tissues by activating mechanoreceptors like Merkel cells for low-frequency vibrations, Pacinian corpuscles for deep pressure and vibration, and Meissner corpuscles for light touch.
Step-by-step explanation:
The massage movements that stimulate underlying tissues are known for engaging various mechanoreceptors within the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Among those are Merkel cells, which detect low-frequency vibrations at the surface, located in the stratum basale of the epidermis. Lamellated or Pacinian corpuscles respond to deep pressure and high-frequency vibration, found deeper in the dermis or the subcutaneous tissue.
These corpuscles have encapsulated endings which are efficient in transducing the sensations they receive. Light touch, on the other hand, is predominantly sensed by tactile (Meissner) corpuscles, which are also encapsulated endings situated at more superficial layers of the skin. The hair follicle plexus, detecting hair movement, along with bulbous or Ruffini corpuscles that gauge skin stretch, also play roles in detecting different types of physical interactions and stimulating the underlying tissues. Lastly, the ability to perceive these sensations depends greatly on the integrity and functionality of these receptors and the neurons that convey their signals to the brain for processing.