nociceptor

plural nociceptors

1. anatomyA sensory receptor that sends signals that cause the perception of pain in response to a potentially damaging stimulus.

   The “beneceptors,” “nociceptors,” and "neutroceptors” generally signalled stimuli that were, respectively, beneficial, harmful, or neutral as regards the organism or its species.

   1973, Behaviorism, page 42

   1 more example

   He divides receptors into three classes— "nociceptors", such as the nerve-endings for pain and hunger, "beneceptors", such as the nerve-endings stimulated when sugar melts on the tongue, and "neutroceptors", such as the nerve-endings in the eye and ear, called " neutroceptors" because they receive more or less indiscriminately both pleasant and unpleasant messages.

   1929, The Australasian Journal of Psychology and Philosophy, page 310

   Synonyms: nocisensor · Antonyms: beneceptor