PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Merkel cells are touch-sensitive cells that transduce touch via Piezo2 channels. The Merkel cell-neurite complex contains two sensory receptor cell types. Merkel cells and neurons together mediate different aspects of touch responses.

Detailed explanation-2: -Merkel discs have high tactile acuity and are very sensitive to skin indentation, pressure, hair movement, and other tactile stimuli.

Detailed explanation-3: -To properly encode touch stimuli, SAI afferents require the presence of Merkel cells, which are putative sensory cells (Maricich et al., 2009).