Final answer:
If the epidermis is burned, the type of receptor that would most likely get burned are the free nerve endings, which are responsible for detecting pain caused by the burn.
Step-by-step explanation:
If epidermis is burnt, the receptor type you would most likely burn would be the free nerve endings. The epidermis houses different types of cells, and free nerve endings are responsible for the sensation of pain. A burn on the epidermis can damage these nerve structures, which detect painful stimuli.
Free nerve endings are unlike other sensory receptors in the skin, such as Ruffini endings, which sense stretch and torque, Pacinian corpuscles, which respond to deep pressure and vibration, or hair receptors, which detect hair movement.
When the skin is sunburned, for example, the UV light from the sun or tanning lamps damages the epidermal layer, triggering pain sensations that are detected by these free nerve endings. Such damage can lead to consequences like an increased risk for skin cancer, especially when it causes visible skin changes like tanning, which is a sign of the skin's defense mechanism kicking in to protect the living cells below from further UV light damage.