Final answer:
Sensory nerves in the skin are linked to receptors like Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles, and Merkel cells, which detect various stimuli. Information from these receptors is sent to the brain's somatosensory cortex through the spinal cord.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sensory nerves link to specialized structures and cells within the skin, which act as receptors for different stimuli. These include the Meissner corpuscle (tactile corpuscle), which responds to light touch, and the Pacinian corpuscle (lamellated corpuscle) for sensing vibration. Additionally, Merkel cells in the stratum basale function as touch receptors. Moreover, the free nerve ending configuration allows sensory receptor neurons to detect a range of stimuli such as chemical, thermal, and mechanical changes. The sensory information is carried up from these receptors through the spinal cord to the brain, reaching areas like the medulla and thalamus, and eventually getting processed in the somatosensory cortex of the postcentral gyrus in the parietal lobe. This neural pathway enables the sensory exam to test the somatic senses and dermatomes that correspond to specific spinal nerves and regions of skin.