What is a receptor? Types and purposes of receptors

The article describes what receptors are, why they serve a person, and, in particular, consider the topic of receptor antagonists.

Biology

Life on our planet exists almost 4 billion years. For this incomprehensible time for human perception, a lot of biological species have changed , and this process will probably continue forever. But if we view from the scientific point of view any biological organism, then its structure, coordination and the fact of existence in general are amazing, and it concerns even the simplest species. And about the human body and say nothing! Any area of his biology is unique and interesting in its own way.

We in this article will consider what receptors are, why they are needed and what they are. In this we will try to understand as much as possible.

Act

According to the encyclopedia data, the receptor is the union of the endings of nerve fibers in some neurons that are sensitized, and specific formations of intercellular substance and special cells of living tissues. Together they are engaged in transforming the influence of factors of various kinds, which are often called stimuli, into a special nervous impulse. Now we know what a receptor is.

Some types of human receptors perceive information and exposure through special cells of epithelial origin. In addition, altered nerve cells also participate in the processing of information on stimuli, but their difference is that they themselves can not generate nerve impulses, but only act on innervating endings. For example, taste buds work like this (they are located in the epithelium on the surface of the tongue). Their action is based on chemoreceptors, which are responsible for the perception and treatment of exposure to chemical or volatile substances.

Now we know what taste buds are and how they work.

Appointment

Simply put, receptors are responsible for the operation of almost all sensory organs. And in addition to the most obvious, such as sight or hearing, they allow a person to feel and other phenomena: pressure, temperature, humidity and so on. So we sorted out the question of what receptors are. But consider them in more detail.

Stimuli that activate these or other receptors can serve very different effects and actions, for example, deformation of mechanical properties (wounds and cuts), chemical aggression and even an electric or magnetic field! True, which receptors are responsible for the perception of the latter, has not yet been determined exactly. It is only known that such precisely exist, but they are developed in different ways.

Kinds

They are divided into species according to their location in the body and irritant, due to which we receive signals into the nerve endings. Consider in more detail the classification of receptors for an adequate irritant:

• Hemoretseptory - responsible for the taste and smell, their work is based on the effects of volatile and other chemicals.
• Osmoreceptors - participate in determining the change in osmotic fluid, ie, increase or decrease in osmotic pressure (this is something like a balance between extracellular and intracellular fluids).
• Mechanoreceptors - receive signals based on physical effects.
• Photoreceptors - thanks to them our eyes take a visible spectrum of light.
• Thermoreceptors - are responsible for the perception of temperature.
• Pain receptors.

What are receptor antagonists?

In simpler terms, these are substances that can bind to receptors, but do not change the course of their work. And the agonist, on the contrary, not only binds, but also actively influences the receptor. For example, the latter include some narcotic substances used for anesthesia. They deprive the receptor of sensitivity. If they are called partial, then their action is incomplete.