What are the receptors called that are found all over the body and contain hot and cold receptors?

Thermoreceptors are specialized sensory receptors that respond to changes in temperature. They are distributed throughout the body, particularly in the skin, where they play a critical role in thermoregulation by detecting hot and cold stimuli. These receptors allow the body to sense temperature changes in the environment, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis.

When a person feels heat, the thermoreceptors designed to detect high temperatures are activated, sending signals to the brain that contribute to the perception of warmth. Similarly, cold receptors activate in response to lowering temperatures, signaling the body to take appropriate actions such as seeking warmth. This capacity to detect and respond to thermal stimuli is vital for avoiding harmful temperatures that could cause damage to the tissues and for engaging in behaviors that regulate body temperature.

The other types of receptors mentioned focus on different sensory modalities. Medullary receptors are not a standard term in this context. Pain receptors, or nociceptors, specifically respond to potentially damaging stimuli that can be perceived as pain rather than temperature. Cutaneous receptors refer more broadly to skin receptors but do not exclusively pertain to temperature detection, as they encompass a variety of sensory modalities, including pressure and touch in addition to temperature. Thus, thermoreceptors specifically highlight the function and role of temperature