Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Sensory receptors are specialized cells that detect and respond to specific types of sensory information from the environment.
Related terms
Photoreceptors: Cells in the retina of the eye that detect light and help us see.
Mechanoreceptors: Receptors responsible for detecting touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception (body position).
Chemoreceptors: Receptors that respond to chemical changes in our internal or external environment, such as taste buds on our tongue detecting different flavors.