What type of nerve endings are enclosed in a capsule of connective tissue and react to light touch?

Meissner's corpuscles are specialized nerve endings that are encapsulated in connective tissue, enabling them to respond specifically to light touch. These structures are found primarily in the dermal papillae of hairless skin areas, such as the fingertips and the soles of the feet. Their design allows them to be highly sensitive to changes in texture and vibration at low frequencies, making them crucial for the perception of fine tactile stimuli.

In contrast, Pacinian corpuscles, although also encapsulated, are primarily responsible for sensing deep pressure and high-frequency vibration rather than light touch. Merkel cells, which are non-encapsulated and located in the epidermis, are involved in detecting light touch, but they function differently from the encapsulated Meissner's corpuscles. Ruffini endings, on the other hand, are sensitive to skin stretch and contribute to the perception of the force applied to the skin, but they do not primarily detect light touch.

Therefore, the unique structure and function of Meissner's corpuscles make them specifically suited for detecting light tactile sensations, illustrating their importance in the integumentary sensory system.