Final answer:
The term that describes the sensation of "pins and needles" is paresthesia. It involves or numbing sensations caused by factors like nerve pressure or blood flow issues. Sensory neurons such as Merkel cells and Pacinian corpuscles are related receptors that contribute to touch perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sensation of "pins and needles" is commonly referred to as paresthesia. Paresthesia is a burning, or numbing sensation that is usually felt in the extremities such as hands, arms, legs, or feet, but can occur in other parts of the body. The cause of paresthesia can be a variety of factors such as pressure on the nerves, lack of blood flow, or nerve damage.
Touch is an important sense which relies on various sensory neurons in the skin. For instance, Merkel cells, known as type I cutaneous mechanoreceptors, are responsible for sensing low frequency vibrations. More profound pressure and vibration are detected by lamellated (Pacinian) corpuscles, while light touch is registered by tactile (Meissner) corpuscles. Meanwhile, thermoreceptors in the skin respond to changes in temperature, and these sensations can lead to action potentials traveling through neurons, communicating temperature-related information.
In a medical setting, the perception of such sensations would typically be assessed using various clinical methods, such as the cotton-tipped applicator test, to determine the integrity and health of the patient's somatosensory system.