Which of the following statements is true regarding receptor distribution in the fingertips?

• A. Pacinian receptors have the largest receptor field
• B. Meissner's and Merkel's receptors are more abundant in the fingertips
• C. Merkel's receptors have no role in discrimination
• D. Pacinian receptors are not involved in vibration detection

Answer: (B)

Tactile discrimination in the fingertips relies on a high density of receptors that provide fine spatial detail. Meissner's corpuscles are located near the surface and respond to light, dynamic touch with small receptive fields, helping detect motion and edges. Merkel's discs are also concentrated there and give steady signals about pressure and texture, supporting precise discrimination. Pacinian receptors sit deeper and have larger receptive fields, making them excellent for detecting high-frequency vibrations but not as suited for fine spatial localization, and they are not as densely packed in the fingertips. Because of this dense, complementary mix of Meissner's and Merkel's receptors, the fingertips achieve high tactile acuity, making the statement about their abundance the best fit.