Final answer:
Sensory receptors can be classified based on their structure, function, and the type of stimuli they transduce.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are three methods to classify sensory receptors:
- Structural classification based on the anatomy of the cell and its position relative to the stimulus, such as free nerve endings or encapsulated endings.
- Functional classification based on how the cell transduces the stimulus into a neural signal. For example, chemoreceptors respond to chemical stimuli, while mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical stimuli.
- Classification based on the type of stimuli they transduce, such as chemoreceptors that interpret taste or smell, osmoreceptors that respond to solute concentrations, or thermoreceptors that sense temperature changes.