Final answer:
Pacinian corpuscles and Ruffini endings are responsible for detecting heavy pressure in the skin. Pacinian corpuscles are deep in the dermis and respond to transient pressure and vibration, while Ruffini endings can also detect deep touch and skin stretch.
Step-by-step explanation:
Structures That Detect Heavy Pressure in the Skin
The structures that detect heavy pressure in the skin are known as Pacinian corpuscles and Ruffini endings. These mechanoreceptors are specialized to sense deep touch or pressure. Pacinian corpuscles are especially known for their ability to detect transient deep pressure and high-frequency vibration.
They are encapsulated and located deep in the dermis and also found in various body parts such as the bone periosteum, joint capsules, and other viscera. By contrast, Merkel's disks and Meissner's corpuscles, which are found in the upper parts of the skin, are responsible for detecting finer touch. Ruffini endings, similar to Pacinian corpuscles, can also sense deep touch and are involved in detecting skin stretch.
When the Pacinian corpuscles are compressed due to pressure or vibration, they trigger their internal dendrites, which then send the touch sensation to the brain. Despite being less numerous than other sensory receptors in the skin, these corpuscles play a critical role in our ability to detect and interpret deep pressure sensations on our skin.