Development of the somatosensory system

Abstract

The somatosensory system deals with information from a variety of sensory receptors located in the skin, muscles, joints, and other deeper tissues. It enables us to experience touch, pain, warmth, and cold, and to sense the position and movements of our body. Understanding how this system develops structurally and functionally during embryonic and fetal life provides an insight into how the fetus and newborn infant develops the capacity to receive and experience sensations arising from noxious, tactile, thermal, or mechanical stimuli. Although it will be difficult to determine, unequivocally, when the fetus is first aware of its surroundings and conscious of perceiving these stimuli, we can ..