Free nerve endings present in the skin perceive the sensation of

Options

A. Touch
B. Pressure
C. Both touch and pressure
D. Joint rotation.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Free Nerve Endings**: Free nerve endings are a type of sensory receptor found in the skin. They are responsible for detecting various sensations.

2. **Identifying Sensations**: The question asks what sensations free nerve endings perceive. The options provided are touch, pressure, both touch and pressure, and joint rotation.

3. **Types of Receptors**: In the skin, there are different types of mechanoreceptors, including:
- Merkel's discs (sensitive to light touch)
- Meissner's corpuscles (sensitive to touch)
- Ruffini endings (sensitive to heat)
- Pacinian corpuscles (sensitive to pressure)
- Free nerve endings (sensitive to pain, temperature, and some touch)

4. **Function of Free Nerve Endings**: Free nerve endings are primarily responsible for detecting pain and temperature, but they also play a role in sensing touch and pressure.

5. **Analyzing the Options**:
- Touch: Yes, free nerve endings can detect light touch.
- Pressure: Yes, they can also detect pressure, although more specialized receptors like Pacinian corpuscles are primarily responsible for pressure sensation.
- Both touch and pressure: This option is valid as free nerve endings can perceive both sensations.
- Joint rotation: This is not typically associated with free nerve endings.

6. **Conclusion**: The correct answer is that free nerve endings in the skin perceive the sensation of both touch and pressure.

**Final Answer**: Both touch and pressure (Option 3).

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