Merkel cell

Merkel cells or Merkel 's corpuscles (named after the Göttingen anatomist Friedrich Merkel, who discovered the cell in 1875 ) are special sensory cells in the deeper parts of the epidermis (outer skin), which act as pressure receptors. You are individually ( in the glabrous skin ) or in groups ( in the hairy skin, then sometimes referred to as Pinkus Iggo scanning discs ) between the basal cells. The complex of Merkel cells and nerve terminal is called a Merkel disc.

Merkel cells are among the mechanoreceptors of tactile perception. They adapt slowly and fire with an intensity of stimulus, ie, the pressure intensity, frequency proportional. Adequate stimulus is pushing the skin at a rate of 0.3 to 3 Hz

The Merkel cells of mammals are of epithelial origin. They contain cytokeratins, neuropeptide -containing granules and short processes. They are probably also neurosekretorisch active. One of the Merkel cells outgoing rare malignant tumor is the Merkel cell carcinoma.