Premium
Responses of vibration‐sensitive receptors in the interosseous region of the duck's hind limb
Author(s) -
Dorward Patricia K.,
McIntyre A. K.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009650
Subject(s) - rheobase , anatomy , receptor , mechanoreceptor , sensory receptor , sciatic nerve , vibration , chemistry , electrophysiology , biology , acoustics , sensory system , neuroscience , physics , biochemistry
1. Responses of receptors with fibres in the interosseous nerve of the duck's leg have been studied by recording unit discharges in filaments dissected from the sciatic nerve. 2. Seventy‐two of the ninety‐four units examined served highly phasic, vibration‐sensitive mechanoreceptors in the interosseous region interpreted as being Herbst corpuscles. Receptor types for most of the other units could not be determined, but some were slowly adapting mechanoreceptors. 3. Rheobase threshold values for the most sensitive vibration‐receptors were similar to those of mammalian Pacinian corpuscles. 4. Threshold—frequency relationships for the vibration receptors showed a wider range of low frequency cut‐off values, and a greater capacity to signal high frequencies, than is the case with Pacinian corpuscles. 5. Fibres of the vibration‐receptors had calculated diameters ranging from 5 to 10 μm and account for the bulk of the larger fibres in the interosseous nerve. 6. It is suggested that Herbst corpuscles in the legs of birds might act as a warning device by detecting vibratory disturbances of the ground or other supporting surface.